MK Dons Ladies ran rampant against Haringey Women on Sunday as they stormed out 16-1 winners, with both Heather McDonnell and Louise Naylor both registering hat-tricks.
The emphatic victory saw the Dons move to the top of the South East Division 1 with just two games left to play. Laura Mills, Dawn Mallett and Kim Farrow all grabbed goals in the first half, with Leah Cudone scoring a brace to make the score 5-0 at half time in the Dons’ favour.
The half time break didn’t slow the prolific Dons down as McDonnell and Naylor both scored three goals each. Along with the two second-half hat-trick heroes, Alice Hughes, Zoe Boote and Anna Loftus all scored a goals, with captain Leanna Doyle striking twice in the second half to see the Dons reach double digits.
Haringey, who never gave up, were rewarded for their efforts when the score was 14-0 as they scored a consolation goal. The Dons did suffered a more significant blow as Anna Loftus received a red card with the score at 15-1. Her dismissal will cause her to miss the final games of the season.
The Dons are next in action against Stevenage Ladies at Stadium MK on Wednesday evening in their penultimate game of the season.
With the sun shining brightly at Wootton Cross, the Dons started the game at a blistering pace as Mallett had a shot from distance that rebounded off the post for Mills to fire home to make 1-0.
Cudone then turned on the style as she controlled the ball skilfully, before powerfully firing it past the keeper to make it 2-0.
Mallett and Cudone were both nearly on the scoresheet after the Dons’ second goal, as both had efforts saved within minutes of each other.
However, both players wouldn’t be denied as Cudone was played through on goal and snapped up the opportunity to make it 3-0, before Mallett cleverly beat the offside trap to score her own impressive goal from a one on one opportunity. 4-0.
Once again Cudone caused Haringey trouble as she stormed into the box and was fouled, with the referee awarding a penalty which Farrow converted. 5-0.
Farrow’s goal made it 5-0 to the Dons moments before the break, with James Honeyman opting to replace Mills with McDonnell as soon as the second half started.
It proved to be a successful decision as McDonnell scored from eight-yards out after Hughes played the ball into the box to make it 6-0, before she grabbed her brace by scoring a rebound from her own effort. 7-0.
Hughes, who already had an assist to her name, got the slightest touch on a Dons’ corner moments later to make it 8-0, with Naylor scoring from another corner that was won moments after the restart. 9-0.
Doyle was then denied from a spot-kick as her effort was saved, the Dons were awarded their second penalty of the game after Haringey were deemed to have handled the ball in the box.
Naylor and McDonnell went close to adding to their goal tally, but it was Loftus who grabbed the Dons’ tenth of the game as she fired home a cross by Cudone. 10-0.
Boote, who had come on as a substitute, took mere moments to get involved with the clinical Dons as she fired the ball home to see her side go 11-0 up.
After missing some chances, McDonnell was determined to get her hat-trick and got her just desserts by successfully striking from close-range. 12-0.
Doyle, who had her penalty saved, went on a solo mission to get among the goalscorers and her individual effort was rewarded when she slotted the ball home to make it 13-0.
Naylor proceeded to get her second of the game by heading home yet another cross courtesy of Charly Wright’s potent delivery. 14-0
It was then Haringey’s turn to get on the scoresheet as they broke through on goal to make it 14-1, only to find themselves 15-1 down minutes later as Doyle grabbed her brace with another calm finish.
Naylor thought she grabbed a hat-trick of headers from corners only to be denied before the game turned slightly sour for the Dons as Loftus received her marching orders for an off the ball incident.
However Naylor got everyone’s spirits lifted again as she grabbed her hat-trick, all of goals being headers from corners, to see the Dons win the game 16-1.
Speaking after the game Honeyman shared his joy at the emphatic result that had sent the Dons top of the league.
“It was a great team effort today,” said Honeyman.
“The players set the objectives today, and they delivered. We move top of the league and it’s fully deserved.”
Starting XI: Kirby, Holland, Wright, Doyle (c), Mallett, Cudone, Farrow (Boote,67), Hughes,Loftus, Naylor, Mills (McDonnell, 48)
Goals: Mills (6), Cudone (15,24), Mallett (31), Farrow (45+1), McDonnell (51,53,78), Hughes (58), Naylor (59, 80,89), Loftus (68), Boote (70) Doyle (79,85).
Booked: Loftus (Straight Red, 89)
