London Bees vs Milton Keynes Dons on 05 Mar 23 - Match Centre

Charlie Bill’s Women will travel to their fourth consecutive away league game to face London Bees in a mission to find three points which could help them climb to within the top five of the league table.

Following a 1-0 victory over Gillingham in the previous weekend of fixtures, the Dons are now within an arm’s reach of Cheltenham and Billericay Town, who are both three points ahead with a minimum of two more matches played.

However, Charlie Bill’s team will also have to be mindful of last weekend’s opponents Gillingham, who will be determined to return to their original seventh-place position prior to Mollie Coupar’s late winner.

If the travelling team are to claim victory, as well as other results in the league being awarded in their favour, they could ascend two places within the FAWNL Southern Premier Division table and occupy fifth.

This fixture will take place at the Hive London Stadium, HA8 6AG. Kick-off is scheduled for 2:00pm. Tickets are priced at £5 per adult and £2 per concession whilst Under-17s can gain entry for just £1.

THE OPPOSITION 
London Bees currently place tenth out of the 13 teams that occupy the league. 14 points have been claimed so far from four successes and two draws, one of which was produced in their most-recent result, a 1-1 draw against Billericay Town, the current fifth-place team.

However, prior to their point last weekend, the Bees had been handed defeats in three consecutive games, which has seen their winless streak increase to four. This will be a stat that the home side will look to abolish as they welcome Charlie Bill’s Women to the Hive.

LAST TIME OUT
MK Dons had the opportunity to surpass Gillingham in the league table having played one less fixture, this was a chance that the team inevitably grabbed with both hands.

Mollie Coupar earned goal number 20 for the season so far, an impressive feat secured in the 81 minute of the match, which eventually separated the two sides and awarded the Dons with a 1-0 victory over the Gills.

A 1-1 draw against Billericay Town saw the Bees put an end to their recent miseries, which Natasha Kleanthous’ team will look to build on as they partake in back-to-back home games.

Although a point was earned, a late equaliser conjured from Billericay snuffed the hopes of the home side’s first victory since late January.

UPCOMING ACCOLADES
 Gemma Biggadike nears 20 starts for the current campaign, alongside teammate Amy McLean, who could also receive an accolade of 20 appearances within the same fixture.

Similarly, if Leoni Miceli was to take to the field, she could earn her tenth appearance against London Bees.

Should Lucy Wood be named in this weekend’s starting XI, the midfielder could receive both 15 appearances, as well as starts during her loan spell at Stadium MK.

Wood could also earn ten goal contributions, alongside her teammate Tricia Gould if either player is to provide a goal or an assist on Sunday afternoon (March 5).

Angelina Nixon nears an impressive milestone of 15 assists, which could be achieved if the number seven supports a goal at the Hive stadium.

Images captured by CTFPhotography

MK Dons Women claimed a 2-0 victory at the Hive, courtesy of goals from midfielder Angelina Nixon and the recent return signing Zoe Barratt.

A victory over the Bees meant that the Dons ascended a place within the FAWNL Southern Premier Division table whilst Gillingham closely follow on the same number of points. The only object between the two teams is the goal difference, which currently sways in MK Dons’ favour.

An impressive display all-round not only ensured three points, but it also constructed back-to-back clean sheets for the MK Dons number one Chloe Sansom, as well as the team.

Within the past three weeks, Charlie Bill’s Women have earned a total of seven points out of a possible 12, despite the lack of a home advantage within the most-recent set of quadruple fixtures played.

Barratt’s first goal since her return to Stadium MK opened the scoring during the dying stages of the first half.

A minute prior to the interval, Tricia Gould’s pass over the London Bees’ defence dropped into the path of the number 16, who remained composed as she claimed her first goal within her third appearance since re-joining the club. 0-1  

A well-placed strike conjured by Barratt had Charlie Bill’s Women gain the advantage they wanted before the break.

The momentum MK Dons acquired prior to half time carried over into the second stage of the clash, which helped the in-form midfielder increase her goal contribution number to 22 for the season so far.

The outstanding milestone was complimented by an outstanding strike from the number seven, who picked up the ball in the middle of the field before she unleashed a rocket of a strike to beat the Bees’ goalkeeper from approximately 15-yards outside the box. 0-2

This saw the end of the Dons’ goalscoring antics, who then remained professional as they saw out the remainder of the fixture. This inevitably saw a crucial three points earned, which continued their progression within the league table whilst preventing Gillingham from overcoming them in sixth.

Now, just one victory could be the difference between MK Dons Women and a top-five spot within the league.

***

MK Dons: Sansom (C), Warren, Puddick, Biggadike, Stovold, Nixon (Miles 87), Gould, Barrat, Coupar (Wilson 76), Brown (Giddings 45), Samuels (Newman 68)

Goals: Barratt 44, Nixon 69

Images captured by CTFPhotography

Milton Keynes Dons

Preview: London Bees Women

Report: London Bees Women 0-2 MK Dons