Chichester City started well but the first chance – and goal – would go to the visitors. Lauren Dolbear was at full stretch to save Louise Naylor’s 25-yard shot from going in. A minute later the referee pointed to the spot as the ball bounced off the post and onto Tammy Waine’s arm from close range. Up stepped Clarke to face Dolbear, the Chi goalkeeper dived the right way but the ball grazed her fingertips and hit the back of the net.
The goal didn’t shake the hosts as moments after Helen Ogle teed up Tash Stephens in the box but the winger’s back flicked attempt flew over the goalmouth. Ogle then had two headed opportunities; the first she got under and the second lacked the power to trouble Sophie Shults.
MK Dons seemed happy to soak up the pressure from the hosts and always looked for the quick counter.
Charly Wright’s cross into a good area found Alice Hughes but the forward couldn’t direct that ball towards goal.
The ever-dependable Waine got her foot in the way to prevent MK from feeding lone striker Leah Cudone.
Both keepers were called into action in the half Shults diving low to parry M.Clark’s curling free-kick while Dolbear had to jump high to protect her top corner from Wright.
Chi’s patience held and it looked like MK’s defence would too before the break until the hosts were awarded a free-kick directly in front of goal 30-yards out two minutes into first-half injury-time. M.Clark struck the ball well keeping it straight to soar over the wall and Shults into the roof of the net.
Photo: Sheena Booker
Two minutes from the restart skipper, Lauren Cheshire added her name to the scoresheet with her first goal in 19 months. Substitute Cherelle Khassal’s (had replaced an injured Laura Ingram in the first-half) cross was headed on by the MK defence to Cheshire who utilised the space she had to control, set and shoot across the keeper into the bottom corner.
The perfect start to the second half and it was about to get better when Barron found herself on the scoresheet although she didn’t know too much about it until she was bundled by her teammates while she looked to see where the ball went. Clark’s corner found the midfielder at the near post with enough power as it smashed off the back of her head and into the net.
Milton Keynes pulled a goal back just passed the hour mark through a long ball counter to Amy Gooderham to send the ball low and across goal.
Photo: Sheena Booker
With less than two minutes from the restart, Sara Tubby restored the two goal advantage when her head connected with substitute Holly Wride’s corner.
It wasn’t long before Tubby made it five for Chi, the clock said two minutes from her 64th minute goal but it was less than a minute from kick-off.
MK played all the way back to their keeper who couldn’t clear in time as Tubby advanced on Shults, the ball smashed the striker and sail back towards the empty net. With 66 minutes played it was 5-2 to Chi.
The visitors looked for a way back into the game but Waine remained strong to challenge and Cheshire tracked back into time to force a corner which was strongly cleared by Dolbear.
No more goals came as the final whistle came ending another strong performance for Chi which kept them top of the National League Southern Premier by five points.
Photo: Sheena Booker
Chichester City: Lauren Dolbear, Lauren Cheshire (c), Tammy Waine, Tiffany Taylor, Laura Ingram (Cherelle Khassal), Molly Clark (Hollie Wride), Lauren Clark, Rebecca Barron, Sara Tubby, Tash Stephens, Helen Ogle (Sharna Capel-Watson)
MK Dons: Sophie Shults, Laura Bright, Charly Clarke, Leah Cudone, Leanna Doyle, Vicky Holland, Joanne Horwood, Alice Hughes (Amy Gooderham), Leah Littlechild (Eleanor Gough), Louise Naylor (Zoe Boote), Charly Wright
