Preview: Gillingham Ladies

Dons Women prepare for their third league game within a week…

24 February 2023

Charlie Bill and his team will travel to Gillingham to face the side, who are currently three points ahead of MK Dons within the FAWNL Southern Premier Division league table.

Recently, the Dons Women faced Cheltenham Town at Evesham United’s ground, which resulted in a 2-2 draw. That, as well as a narrow defeat on the road against Watford, makes up two of the three away games that the team are participating in within this week.

The final fixture of the trio will commence on Sunday, a FAWNL league clash, which could alter the standing of the league table.

This fixture is scheduled to take place at the Bauvill Stadium, ME4 6LR. Tickets to this tie are priced at £5 per adult and £3 per concession whilst Under-16s go FREE. KO - 2:30pm

THE OPPOSITION
Gillingham, who currently occupy seventh place, which is one position above MK Dons, have recently claimed back-to-back victories. The home side will seek to sustain their winning form in their mission to keep Charlie Bill’s Women below them in the league table.

Heading into this weekend, a three-point gap currently separates the two sides. However, the Dons’ goal difference is one greater than Sunday’s opponents.

  LAST TIME OUT
 In their previous outing, MK Dons claimed a point on the road against Cheltenham Town Ladies. A result that Charlie Bill will look to build on as the team prepares for Gillingham.

Angelina Nixon’s goal at the death of the first half granted the Dons with the lead, although Cheltenham’s equaliser on the hour mark cancelled that advantage. Coupar then restored the edge over the Robinesses, but once again the home side drew level.

Nixon and Coupar are currently the only two players within the squad to supply a remarkable total of 20+ goal contributions in their 2022/23 campaign so far.

The Gills claimed a 1-0 victory over Crawley Wasps during their mid-week action. A match prior, saw the first league meeting between this weekend’s teams, which resulted in a 2-0 victory in favour of Gillingham.

The hosts will want to continue their two-game winning streak and ensure that they remain above Charlie Bill’s Women within the league table.

UPCOMING ACCOLADES
 The Woman between the sticks Chloe Sansom could achieve her 20 appearance, as well as her 20 start against the Gills.  

Nicola Puddick could join her goalkeeper teammate to claim 20 appearances this weekend.

 If named within the starting XI, Lucy Wood could achieve 15 starts, as well as appearances. Not only that, but if the number 11 is to score or assist she would also claim ten goal contributions for the season so far.

  Sofia Stovold could earn her tenth appearance since recently returning from a long stint on the side-lines due to injury. Leoni Miceli could also be awarded with her tenth appearance of the season.

MK Dons Women’s top goal-scorer Mollie Coupar could increase her tally to an outstanding 20 if she is to locate the back of the net against Gillingham.

Images captured by CTFPhotography

Match Reports

Report: Gillingham 0-1 MK Dons Women

MK Dons Women claim victory on the road…

27 February 2023

Mollie Coupar’s late winner secures all three points in MK Dons Women’s FAWNL Southern Premier Division league game against Gillingham.

Charlie Bill’s Women travelled to Chatham Wood to partake in their third away league fixture within the week. The team sought to build on their draw against Cheltenham Town Ladies on Thursday night in an effort to replace the Gills within the FAWNL League table.

A victory for the Dons Women would ensure that they replaced the home side in seventh with a greater goal difference.

Two changes were made from Charlie Bill’s mid-week side, who faced the robinesses. Amy McLean replaced Tricia Gould and Zoe Barratt made her first full debut since the number 16 returned to Stadium MK in place for Laura Mitchell.

FIRST HALF
A tight contest throughout the first half would eventually lead to a goalless score-line at the break.

MK Dons looked to grab three points in an attempt to swap league positions between the two side who battled on field. On the other hand, the Gills had desires of their own to claim three points, which would help secure their position over the dons within the table.

Promising chances were created by the travelling team, but the scoring had yet to be opened. The second half could prove vital to the FAWNL league standings.

SECOND HALF 
Similarly to the first 45 minutes, an even encounter saw that neither side had broken the deadlock. That was until MK Dons’ top goal-scorer Mollie Coupar increased her season’s tally to an incredible milestone.

Chances at goal were conjured by Charlie Bill’s Women throughout the second half, but they were yet to penetrate the Gills’ goalmouth. With less than ten minutes remaining on the stopwatch, Coupar netted goal number 20 within the striker’s current campaign.

A high-intensity press had caught the home side on their heels, which allowed MK Dons to pick-pocket the ball within Gillingham’s final-third. A delivery into the path of the number 18 set up a golden opportunity for the forward, who had composedly finished the chance gifted to her. 0-1  

An extra seven minutes of injury time were seen to be played, but that didn’t faze the Dons, who had performed well defensively to maintain their advantage.

All three points were in favour of the travelling team at the final whistle. Coupar’s winning goal allowed MK Dons to match Gillingham on points and rise to seventh within the league table due to their goal difference.

***

MK Dons: Sansom (C), Warren, Puddick, Biggadike, Stovold, Nixon (Samuels 90+7), Barratt (Miles 86), Coupar, Brown (Giddings 66), McLean (Gould 66), Newman

Subs: Mitchell

Goals: Coupar 81

Images captured by CTFPhotography