Milton Keynes Dons vs Plymouth Argyle

Argyle Women travel 230 miles this Sunday in their return to away action in the FA Women’s National League Southern Premier Division to take on Milton Keynes Dons.

Argyle will be looking to reignite the form they found away from home two weeks ago where the Greens came back from a 1-0 deficit at half-time to claim all three points in their first away fixture of 2024, against Cheltenham Town. That was followed by a 4-0 home loss to Oxford United last weekend.

“I thought it was a positive performance last weekend, which sounds mad when you look at the scoreline,” said Perks, on reflection. “With the ball, I thought we were positive and created a lot of chances, but we just needed to be a bit more clinical in the final third. We’ve worked on stuff this week to rectify the mistakes we made that led to the goals we conceded as well as improvements in the final third.”

MK Dons currently sit mid-table, and have won two of their last five league fixtures, beating Cheltenham at home last Sunday via a last-minute winner from Zoe Creaney. Perks praised Charlie Bill's side going into the fixture as well as reflecting on previous matches against the Dons.

“MK have had a very good season in my opinion," Perks said. "Charlie has them organised and they know how they want to play. It’s going to be a tough game and we have a long way to travel which will impact us, we just need to make sure we prepare properly and have the correct mindset going into the match.

"I don’t think we’re a million miles away from MK Dons, on the pitch. Last couple of seasons we’ve lost both the away fixtures but won the home games quite convincingly, we just have to implement those winning performances into this weekend and if we do, I’m sure we can get a result.”

The game will be held at Fairfields Sports Hub, kick-off is at 2pm. Tickets cost £5 for adults and £3 for under-17s. If you can’t make it to the game, then updates are available on social media @ArgyleWFC.

An Ellie Sara-inspired Argyle completed a superb victory at Milton Keynes Dons on Sunday to gain three more crucial points in the FA Women's National League.

The Dons led twice in the game; they opened the scoring through Tricia Gould in the first half, and Lucy Wood put them ahead for a second time after Sara had equalised for Argyle. However, goals from Jade Berrow and two more from Sara secured the Greens victory, despite a late goal for MK Dons almost undoing Argyle’s hard work.

MK started brightly, with Gould striking the post, but Argyle gradually grew into the half following the close encounter and began to mount attacks of their own, but struggled to beat the hands of Chloe Sansom.

Argyle continued to dominate up until the 40th minute, when a mistake in midfield invited a period of pressure from the home side. As the pressure continued to build it was a mistake from skipper Panagiota Papaioannou that allowed Gould to break in behind and strike past goalkeeper Jasmine Read from close range.

The Dons had little time to celebrate their lead, however thanks to an attack spearheaded by Charlotte Whitmore, who laid the ball off for Sara to strike goal-bound from the edge of the area before the half ended.

Whitmore continued to cause problems for the home side as the second half began, as she looked to test the focus of Sansom with a strike from the corner of the 18-yard box, but strong wind blew her effort wayward. Penalty shouts for either side came minutes later with neither side able to convince the referee of any foul play inside the area.

Lucy Wood gave MK the lead once more, with a finish across the face of goal that found its way past Read, but Argyle rallied once again to level the scoreline thanks to a sensational pinpoint ball into the area for Jade Berrow who slotted home Argyle's second.

Spurred on by their equaliser, the Greens continued to throw themselves at the MK defence and found the lead minutes later thanks to Sara, who scored her second with an interception in the home side’s defensive third that allowed the prolific forward to round the keeper and slot home.

Momentum continued to build for Argyle following Sara’s goal and it was not long afterwards that she added her third. It came following another excellent run down the right wing from Whitmore, who weaved past MK defenders and delivered into the foot of Sara, who stabbed home to seal her hat-trick.

As the match came closer to an end Argyle made two further substitutions, bringing on midfielder Katelyn Bell for Sara and Lily Felgate for Read, in goal. Felgate was called into action in an instant as a final push forward from MK put her under major pressure, but the 16-year-old made two crucial saves to keep the Dons at bay.

The final chance of the match came for Laura Mitchell, who headed home the Dons' third goal, but it was too late - Argyle had done enough.

The win puts Argyle into seventh place in the division, 11 points ahead of Chatham in the final relegation spot.

Argyle: 1 Jasmine Read (42 Lily Felgate), 2 Katie Dickson, 5 Panagiota Papaioannou, 6 Lucy Hack, 7 Charlotte Whitmore, 8 Imy Crawford, 9 Ellie Sara (23 Katelyn Bell), 11 Jade Berrow, 15 Georgie Knott, 18 Taya Pomfret, 20 Fern Orchard (19 Erin O’Shea).

MKD MK Dons

PLY Argyle Women