Dawn Mallett ensured MK Dons Ladies progressed in the SSE Women’s FA Cup with an emphatic 6-0 victory over Ashford Town (Middx) Ladies as she scored four goals.
Mallett opened the scoring in the ninth minute to put the Dons ahead early in the game, after Abbie Roberts delivered a first-time cross which Mallett eventually forced over the line.
Mallett then doubled the Dons’ advantage in the 28th minute as she received the ball in the 18-yard box and skillfully beat two players before firing the ball home.
The Dons went into the break with a 2-0 lead, and when they emerged for the second half it didn’t take long for Mallett to strike again.
In the 55th minute, Mallett grabbed her third goal by winning a one v one against a defender to create space for her to blast the ball into the goal to make it 3-0.
Despite grabbing her hat-trick, Mallett was not finished as she grabbed her fourth and final goal of the game in the 64th minute.
Laura Mills had whipped in an excellent corner which Mallett gladly headed home to make it 4-0.
Mallett may have stopped scoring, but it did not stop the Dons extending their lead as Alice Hughes made it 5-0, converting another well-played corner.
Amelia Hazard grabbed the final goal of the game, continuing her goal scoring streak for another week to make it 6-0 to the Dons, as she pressed the defender to win the ball back before slotting the ball past the goalkeeper.
The victory sees the Dons enter the draw for round two of the SSE Women’s FA Cup.
Speaking after the game, assistant manager Charlie Bill was pleased with the team’s professional performance against a lower ranked opposition.
He said: “It was a very professional performance and the ladies controlled the game from the off.
“We exploited spaces well and we were ruthless in front of goal.
“We took the form of previous weeks into this game, and this win will continue the momentum for next week’s County Cup game.”
Starting XI: Smith, Holland, Naylor, Burgess, Doyle (c) (Wright, 70), Clarke, Hughes, Roberts (Gillings, 65), Mallett, McDonnell, Mills (Hazard, 75)
Goals: Mallett (9, 28,55,64) Hughes (73) and Hazard (84).
