Football is back with a bang at Stadium MK as Emily Wilson late strike rescues the Dons from an opening day defeat at the hands of Oxford United Women.
After a tough Pre-season for the Dons, they were looking to bounce straight into league football. After playing teams such as Charlton, and Northern section rivals Derby the Dons felt that even though pre-season results hadn’t gone their way in terms of results, they showed enough quality within these matches. They knew they could cause any side in the division a lot of trouble and were confident of getting a result vs an Oxford side who were playing their first game without Liam Gilbert in charge.
But like all best plans, this didn’t go fully to what the Dons scripted. With the Dons starting slowly, Oxford new signing and former Don Zoe Barrett was able to capitalise on this with a fine header in the area. Barrett found herself unmarked and headed the ball passed a flat-footed Samson in Goal. 0-1
Within 5 minutes Oxford doubled their lead. Lily Stevens swung her free kick into the area, Gotch jumped ahead of Biggadike, and her flicked header looped over Chloe Sansom into the back of the net. 0-2
As the Dons looked to get back into the game, Laura Mitchell was able to get clear of the Oxford defence, But the Oxford defenders were able to catch up to her and applied pressure on her. Mitchell’s shot travelled towards goal but was swept away from one of the covering defenders.
But the Dons were unable to get back into the game, as the first half ended 0-2 to the opposition. Half Time
Starting the second half stronger the Dons were able to get a foothold in the game and started to play some attractive football. What resulted in Laura Mitchell scoring her first goal of the new season. The Welsh winger found herself in a central area as the cross came into the area. Mitchell was able to out jump Gotch and with a looping header placed the ball past a stranded Sercombe in the Oxford goal. 1-2
The Dons had a great chance to grab an equaliser just after the hour mark, but Gould’s effort grazed the Crossbar.
Izzy Cook had a chance to put the game to bed in the 84th minute, after braking clear of the Dons offside trap, she found herself in a one on one with Samson, and the Dons captain pulled off a fantastic save to deny Cook and Oxford all 3 points.
The Dons were still fighting, and they still believed they had one more chance to come. As we know football is a funny old game and in the 90th +7 minute of the game the chance fell to Emily Wilson. The Dons managed to get the equaliser deep into injury time with a goal line scramble. After Samson heroics at the other end, she found herself in the Oxford’s area. Her presence clearly unnerved the Oxford defence, and as a result her presence was vital in the ball ending up in the back of the net. After winning the first header the ball bounced around the goal line and Wilson was the quickest to react stabbing the ball into the back of the net. Breaking Oxfords heart and sending the home crowd and touchline into raptures. 2-2 FT
Dons now face Selsey Women this Sunday in the FAWNL League Cup 1st Round.
MK Dons: Sansom, Puddick, Biggadike (Giddings 79), Beaver, Stovold, Mitchell (Welham 75), Rush, Miles (Samuels 75), Gould, Attenborough, McLean (Wilson 65)
Subs: Timon
Goals: Mitchell 60, Wilson 90+7
Oxford: Sercombe, Hoare, Wellesley-Smith, Gotch, Provan, Stevens, Burridge, Oliver, McLachlan (Swaby 85′), Barratt, King (Cook 62′)
Goals: Barrett 9, Gotch 17
Images: Christopher Foxwell – For more information visit www.ctfphotography.co.uk/photography
Match Images : MK Dons Women vs Oxford United Women
