MK Dons Women were edged out in a five-goal thriller away to Cardiff City.

All five goals were scored during a dramatic first 45 minutes in which the Dons initially fought back from 2-0 down only to concede a third and final goal on the stroke of half-time.

Kylie Nolan and Issy Newns gave the hosts a strong lead with 37 minutes on the clock but two goals in two minutes from the Dons saw them soon level the scores.

Lucy Wood netted the first following a cutback from Marianne Taho before Nicole Pepper saw her corner inadvertently turned into the net by a Cardiff defender.

Four minutes later, though, Cardiff restored their lead thanks to Nolan’s second and that proved to be the decisive goal despite the home side being reduced to 10 players with five minutes to play.

The Dons remain 12th in the FAWPL Southern Premier Division, one point adrift of safety. They host Chichester & Selsey, the team directly above them in the table, in their next league outing.

MK Dons: Sansom, Warren, Giddings, Pepper, Wood, Stovold, Taho, Mills (Coupar 75), Gooderham, Newman (Matthews 86), Miles.

Subs: Newsome, Netschova, Brown.