Heather McDonnell scored a brace to ensure that MK Dons Ladies recorded an emphatic win against Enfield Town on Wednesday.
The Dons ran out 5-1 winners against Enfield in a game where both sides battled trying conditions.
Despite heavy rain affecting the first half, Charly Wright was able to put the Dons 1-0 up before the break.
After the half time interval, the Dons wasted no time extending their lead.
Alice Hughes slotted the ball home to make it 2-0, with Kim Farrow being played through on goal moments later to make it 3-0.
Enfield pulled a goal back to make it 3-1, but the comeback wasn’t on as McDonnell went on to score two goals in order to make the win comfortable.
The game started slowly with both sides getting to grips with the trying conditions.
The Dons had a few half chances, with Wright and Charley Clarke having efforts from long range.
Farrow was the first Dons player to have a real opportunity at goal, as Hughes played a long ball forward to her in the box. However despite getting the ball under her spell, she was unable to beat the Enfield goalkeeper.
With not much time left of the first half, Wright received the ball just inside the right-side of the box. The right-winger took one touch, before firing the ball into the bottom left corner of the net to make it 1-0.
When the teams emerged for the second half, the Dons had the momentum on their side, after scoring just before the break.
The Dons created a few half chances before Hughes found herself with the ball in the box. The midfielder calmly slotted the ball past a charging goalkeeper to make it 2-0.
It wasn’t long before it was 3-0, as a through ball was perfectly played through to Farrow. The recently-signed forward ran onto the pass before guiding the ball into the bottom left corner of the net.
Cudone, the other recent addition to the team, nearly grabbed the fourth goal of the game moments later, but her effort from inside the box was saved.
Enfield continued to battle in the game and their determination paid off as they scored to make it 3-1.
However, after being introduced to the game in place of Louise Naylor, McDonnell made a positive impact.
The forward cut inside from the right-wing and fired the ball, just from the edge of the area, into the bottom corner of the goal to make it 4-1.
McDonnell then proceeded to run the show as she was rewarded with another goal moments later. After several passes between the team, McDonnell found herself with the ball in the centre of Enfield’s box. The clinical forward took one touch before firing the ball into the bottom right corner, to see the Dons win the game 5-1.
Speaking after the game, James Honeyman was thrilled with the win especially given the conditions.
“Second half was better than the first half, we knew our quality would show through in the end,” stated Honeyman.
“In the weather, when it’s sideways raining and the pitch is starting to get puddles on it, you’ve just got to deal with it, so to score five goals on a day like today is fantastic.”
The Dons are back in league action against Actonians on Sunday.
Starting XI: Shults, Naylor (c) (McDonnell 52), Holland, Newsome, Cudone (Boote 83), Farrow (Mills 63), Wright, Clarke, Hughes, Burgess, Mallett.
Goals: Wright (39), Farrow (63), Hughes (66), McDonnell (80, 89)
