MK Dons Ladies secured a 3-1 win against bottom of the table Old Actonians, but were left wondering how they failed to score a hat-full of goals.
First half strikes from Lauren Goodier and Nikki Tarrant put Dons two up at the break, before Carla Williams pulled a goal back for the home side six minutes from time. Lil Stanton secured the win in the final moments of the game.
Manager Liam Willimott was forced to make two changes from the side which beat Brentwood Town after Mamiko Tanabe and Emily Mann failed to recover from injury. Nikki Tarrant returned to her central midfield role, while 16-year-old Cassie Steward, recently signed from Lincoln Development, made her debut in attack.
The Dons pressured the home side straight from the kick-off, and had six really good goal-scoring chances in the opening ten minutes. Lauren Goodier had the best of the chances, putting wide twice before having a third effort blocked by keeper Robyn Tillyer. Nikki Tarrant then had just Tillyer to beat, but the ball took a nasty bobble on the uneven surface as she shot, while Heather McDonnell forced a good save from the keeper, before putting an easy chance wide.
As the game progressed, the Dons continued to dominate as the Old Actonians' goal lived a charmed life. Christie Turner and Hannah Paterson in central defence were quick to snuff out any danger at the back.
Cassie Steward forced another good save from Tillyer on 20 minutes, before Lil Stanton finally got the ball in the net minutes later, only for the goal to be disallowed for a foul on the keeper. Goodier and Steward both had further chances foiled by the keeper on the half hour.
On 35 minutes, the Dons finally went in front. Brodie Betts won the ball on the right and played it inside to Jo Brandon. Her pass forward found Goodier in space just inside the area but this time, she made no mistake to fire home over the keeper.
Just before the break, McDonnell somehow missed another great chance before in added time; Tarrant picked the ball up midway inside the Actonians half, and surged forward to fire under the advancing keeper.
The second half continued in the same vein as the first as McDonnell's shot was palmed behind by Tillyer, before Goodier struck the bar from the resultant corner kick. Typifying the Dons misfortune, the ball rebounded off the back of defender Marian Kelly and into the keeper's arms. Steward came close again, before Goodier struck the bar for a second time - all within the opening six minutes.
The Dons continued to create chances as the half progressed, but lacked that finishing touch. Some great skill from Stanton down the right flank saw her pass into Steward laid off for Tarrant but again, the final touch saw the ball miss the target. It wasn't until the 74 minutes that the Dons keeper Emma Kirby was tested, as she quickly raced out of the area to deny Carla Williams latching onto a through ball.
But the chance seemed to liven up the home side as Williams forced a brilliant save from Kirby moments later. Then on 84 minutes as the Dons were appealing for offside, Williams broke through the defence to fire past Kirby and pull a goal back for the home side.
Having dominated for so long, the Dons started to look edgy and Kirby was called into action minutes later to save a Chelsea Berlin free kick at the near post. With just one minute remaining however, the Dons put the game beyond reach. Goodier and Wright combined down the left with Wright sending the ball into the penalty area. With both Steward and substitute Leigh Dean waiting in the middle, it was Lil Stanton who fired home from 12 yards.
So after playing the bottom team, the Dons play League leaders Lewes next Sunday (5 February) at Willen Road, Newport Pagnell Town FC - 2pm kick-off. Lewes are currently undefeated in the League.
MK Dons Ladies: Kirby, Betts, Paterson, Turner (Robinson 85), Wright, McDonnell (Borrelli 90), Brandon, Tarrant (Dean 77), Stanton, Goodier, Steward.
Goals: Goodier 35; Tarrant 45, Stanton 89.
Booked: Hannah Paterson 90+4 (foul).
Referee: Mr Jeff Till (Enfield)
Other Results: Brentwood Town 0 Luton Town 2; Crystal Palace 0 Lewes 2; Enfield Town 0 Cambridge 0.
