MK Dons Women looked set to achieve all three points until a late equaliser from Portsmouth saw to both sides sharing the spoils at Stadium MK.
Charlie Bill’s Women set out to remain within the top five of the FAWNL Southern Premier Division table as they welcomed fourth position Portsmouth to Milton Keynes.
Pompey, who boast the second-most wins within the league (14) had a big task ahead of them, as a victory for the travelling team could have helped them in a late promotion push as we near the end of the season.
However, the penultimate fixture of the 2022/23 campaign at Stadium MK produced a result which favoured the Dons’ hopes of a top-five finish.
FIRST-HALF
The first stage of the contest saw MK dons take the lead through top goal-scorer Mollie Coupar just seven minutes before the break.
Both sides looked to break down one another, but until minutes before the interval, it was Coupar who would destroy the deadlock at Stadium MK during the penultimate game of the season.
Kerry Newman used a throw-in granted to the Dons quickly in her efforts to catch the Portsmouth rear-guard out of position. An effective ball in produced a great attacking chance for Charlie Bill’s Women, who after multiple attempts at the target, finally found the back of the net through their number 18. 1-0
With just one game remaining, Mollie Coupar had increased her goal tally to an outstanding 27 for the season.
A late lead gifted by Coupar put the hosts in the driving seat as both teams entered the break.
SECOND-HALF
The second 45 minutes of play almost replicated that of the first, an even battle between two sides, who pushed for their own individual desires as they neared the end of the current campaign.
However, the Dons’ resilient defensive display was dismantled within the dying moments of the fixture.
It seemed a stalemate was assured at the end of the second-half, but Pompey capitalised on the six minutes of injury time added onto the end of the clash, and equalised a minute following the fourth official’s signal of time added. 1-1
No matter the late heartbreak, MK Dons Women remained proud in their strong performance, which was enough to see them remain fifth within the FAWNL Southern Premier Division table.
Charlie Bill, alongside his team now prepare for one final test in Plymouth Argyle before the conclusion of the 2022/23 season.
***
MK Dons: Sansom (C), Warren, Puddick, Biggadike, Rush, Miles, Gould (McLean 73), Barratt, Coupar (Brown 89), Mitchell (Wilson 73), Newman
Subs: Samuels, Weltham
Goals: Coupar 38
Images captured by CTFPhotography
