8 Jan 2012: MK Dons Ladies 2-4 Ipswich Town Ladies

Sunday 8th January 2012 at Willen Road, Newport Pagnell Town FC

Match Report: MK Dons Ladies 2-4 Ipswich Town Ladies
(South East Combination)


Ipswich Town Women came from behind to beat the Dons Ladies 4-2 in a topsy-turvy match.

After dominating the opening period of the game and going a goal up through Charly Wright, Ipswich Town fought back to level before the break. Two quick goals for the home side early in the second half killed the game off and after Michelle Allum got her fourth goal twenty minutes from time, Lauren Goodier pulled one back for the Dons deep into added time.

There were three changes from the side which beat Crystal Palace just before the Christmas break, with Charlene Ward replacing the unavailable Emma Kirby in goal. Jade Linnell and Lauren Goodier replaced Hannah Paterson and Nikki Tarrant, who dropped to the bench. Manager Liam Willimott went for a 4-4-2 formation, with Emily Mann partnering Goodier up front. There was a welcome return to Hannah Barrett who was also named as substitute.

The Dons kicked-off playing down the sloping pitch, and dominated the early part of the game without being able to trouble the home keeper. Despite this, it was Ipswich Town who came close to opening the scoring on 11 minutes, when Amanda Everett shot just wide in their first attack of the game.

Lauren Goodier had a shot blocked, before the Dons finally made their possession count by taking the lead on 16 minutes. After some good work by Heather McDonnell and Mann, Jade Linnell's shot was deflected around the post by Amy Howlett for a corner. As Goodier's corner was played into the centre, the ball fell for Wright, and her deflected shot from the edge of the area found its way into the back of the net.

The goal seemed to bring the home side to life, and they started to frustrate the Dons, forcing them to lose possession as passes went astray. Ward saved from Rebecca Vaughan, but the Dons had a great chance to double their lead on 24 minutes when a poor back-pass let in Goodier - her effort deflected off the keeper for a corner. The miss was to prove costly as Ipswich pressed forward. Michelle Allum shot wide but moments later, the Dons failed to clear away the goal kick, and Vaughan played in Allum to slip the ball past Ward.

The Dons tried to take advantage of the slope in the final minutes of the first half as Lil Stanton played a great ball out to McDonnell on the right. She rolled the ball inside to Goodier with the keeper beaten, but Nicole Pannifer managed to get back to clear off the line for a corner. Wright also came close in added time - her shot saved, but the teams remained level at the break.

Two quick goals for Town at the start of the second half stunned the Dons. On 49 minutes, Vicki Stevens corner was blocked, and Allum fired in from 10 yards. Then just two minutes later, Allum got her hat-trick after a one-two with Jade Skillen saw her beat Ward from close range.

The Dons made a couple of changes with Hannah Barrett and Nikki Tarrant replacing Lil Stanton and Jo Brandon, and Barrett almost pulled a goal back with an acrobatic overhead kick which just cleared the bar. But all too often, Dons tried long range efforts which failed to trouble Sophie Baxtor in the Ipswich goal.

On 70 minutes, the home side increased their lead as Allum once more latched onto a through ball, and calmly lobbed the ball over the advancing Ward to make it 4-1.

With the clock ticking down, Ward saved well from Stevens but the final ten minutes saw the Dons press forward. McDonnell's shot was saved at the near post, Christie Turner's shot was blocked on the line, Barrett and Tarrant shot inches wide and Mann's effort was also blocked. Four minutes into added time, Goodier finally managed to get a goal back, firing in from Tarrant's assist.

The Dons Ladies are at home this weekend (Sunday 15 January), when they entertain League leaders Lewes at Newport Pagnell Town FC - 2pm kick-off.

MK Dons Ladies: Ward, Betts, Robinson, Brandon (Tarrant 58), Turner, McDonnell, Stanton (Barrett 55), Wright, Mann, Linnell, Goodier. Subs not used: Nil.

Goals: Charly Wright 16, Lauren Goodier 90+4.

Referee: Mr G.Yellop (Suffolk)

Other Results: Brentwood Town 0 Cambridge 3; Crystal Palace 1 Norwich City 2; Old Actonians 1 Luton Town 5.