Report | Milton Keynes Dons 3 Argyle Women 4
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).
