Plymouth Argyle vs Milton Keynes Dons on 30 Apr 23 - Match Centre

Charlie Bill’s Women prepare for their final game of the season as they travel to face Plymouth Argyle with their sights set on a top five finish.

Argyle, who are threatened with relegation, have everything to fight for in their final fixture of the current campaign. Currently, just two points separate the hosts and the drop zone.

However, MK Dons will have objectives of their own as they seek to remain within the top five of the FAWNL Southern Premier Division table at the conclusion of the 2022/23 season.

Billericay Town and Gillingham currently chase the number five spot with just two points between them both and Charlie Bill’s Women. The Dons will either need a victory or for both Billericay Town and Gillingham to fail grabbing three points in their season finales to ensure that fifth place at the end of the campaign.

Sunday’s opponents visited Stadium MK earlier within the month of April, which saw a 3-1 triumph in favour of the home side, courtesy of goals from Tricia Gould, Mollie Coupar and Laura Mitchell.

This fixture will be played at the Manadon Sports Hub, Plymouth, St Peters Road, PL5 3JH. Tickets to this tie are priced at £5 adults whilst concessions cost £3.

THE OPPOSITION
 Plymouth Argyle currently place tenth, one position above the relegation zone whilst two points ahead of Bridgwater United, who occupy ninth. Argyle have been winless in their previous seven fixtures, although their most-recent 1-1 draw against sixth place Billericay Town has currently ensured their placement within the league for the 2023/24 season.

The home side will have to achieve a victory in their 22 game to mathematically secure safety. Heading into this clash, both teams have strong desires of their own to claim three points, results that will ultimately decide the league standings at the conclusion of the 2022/23 campaign.

LAST TIME OUT 
MK Dons could’ve found their current position secured with a victory over Portsmouth, but a late leveller from the travelling team meant that Charlie Bill’s Women will see their strong season decided by their final game.

Coupar’s opener seven minutes prior to the interval had kept Pompey at an arm’s length until the dying stages of the match. Six minutes of injury time was added onto the end of the fixture, during which Portsmouth had found their equaliser. Now, the Dons set their sights ahead to their season finale with a mission to cement their placement within the division.

UPCOMING ACCOLADES 
As we approach the end of the 2022/23 season, mkdons.com looks at those accolades that could be achieved within the Women’s season finale.

Hannah Warren could be one of the first MK Dons Women’s player to achieve 30 appearances alongside starts within the current campaign.

Much like defender Warren, Gemma Biggadike could also see her 30 appearance of the season within the final fixture.

Angelina Nixon could see her 25 appearance in an MK Dons shirt, the midfielder also bares down on ten goals scored for the season, which can only be achieved if she locates the back of the net within the season finale.

Tricia Gould is one contribution away from 15 for the season. If the forward were to achieve a goal or assist against Plymouth Argyle, then she would earn this milestone.

Top goal-scorer Mollie Coupar could join fellow teammate Hannah Warren by earning 30 appearances and starts within a season. These two are the only players within the squad that could achieve this milestone. The number 18 is also one goal contribution away from a terrific tally of 30.

Images captured by CTFPhotography

MK Dons Women return from the Southwest coast following a 3-0 defeat to Plymouth Argyle in their final fixture of the season.

Charlie Bill, alongside his team, remain within the top five of the FAWNL Southern Premier Division table after their final result of the current campaign. However, it is still possible to drop a place at the conclusion of the league if Billericay Town were to triumph over promotion-chasing Watford.

Gillingham, who also chased that fifth spot were held two points clear from the Dons following their 5-1 loss against the league leaders Oxford United within the Gills’ season finale.

With the possibility of a top-five finish still looming, MK Dons Women rely on the Hornets to prevail over Town to ensure the Stadium MK side’s current standings.

The starting line-up to face Argyle saw the addition of two extra RTC graduates as Madeline Welham and Ruby Heselden were both called up to the first-team squad.

Without the knowledge of Bridgwater United’s result, Plymouth Argyle needed a victory to ensure their placement within the FAWNL Southern Premier Division and the hosts didn’t want to go down without a fight.

During the first 45-minute stage of the competition, the home side broke the deadlock and gained a 1-0 advantage ten minutes before the interval. A dominant first-half display from the Pilgrims was replicated within the second stage of the season finale.

This allowed Plymouth to extend their lead further following a brace from their captain Zoe Cunningham, who rounded off a 3-0 score-line over Charlie Bill’s Women.

Argyle had secured their safety during the conclusion of their 2022/23 campaign, whereas MK Dons must await Bridgwater’s last match to understand where they will be positioned within the league table.

Despite the shortcomings in their trip to Plymouth, MK Dons Women have produced a season to be proud of. Not only have they brought silverware back to Stadium MK during their County Cup campaign, but they’ve also vastly improved from last year’s ninth place finish within the FAWNL Southern Premier Division.

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 MK Dons: Sansom (C), Warren, Puddick, Biggadike (Bennett 75), Rush (Brown 85), Miles, Gould (McLean 45), Barratt, Coupar, Newman (Welham 70), Samuels (Heselden 45)

Images captured by CTFPhotography

Milton Keynes Dons

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Report: Plymouth Argyle 3-0 MK Dons Women