A double from Cheryl Williams and goals from Ellie Searle, Emily Allen and Kayleigh Hines saw Oxford United Women continue their run of good form with a 5-0 win away at MK Dons last night.
A slight reshuffle in the team after captain Lauren Haynes fractured her leg before Sunday’s County Cup game saw Immy Lancaster come into the starting 11 and the U’s got off to a blistering start, opening the scoring inside three minutes. United won a freekick 30 yards from goal and up stepped Cheryl Williams to bend her strike into the top corner to break the deadlock.
Watched on by Karl Robinson and his family, United Women doubled their lead shortly after through Ellie Searle. The fullback made a good run on the overlap and arrowed a shot into the far corner to make it 2-0 to the U’s.
United were dealt with a blow after 10 minutes when centre half Cat Beaver was forced off with a calf injury, but with the introduction of Sophie Baker United controlled possession well and continued to press their opponents as they pushed for more.
It got better for United in the first half as Emily Allen’s back post header made it 3-0 to the U’s as she latched onto Daisy McLachlan’s cross and there was time for a fourth moments before half time with a left footed drive from 20 yards to put Liam Gilbert’s side firmly in control at the break.
The second half at Stadium MK was a much tighter affair with both sides creating opportunities but failing to test either goalkeeper. U’s goalkeeper Aimee Watson remained focused when she was called into action 15 minutes from time, flying to her right to tip a strike around the post to help maintain a clean sheet.
Allen then went close again with a shot whistling wide of the post before United grabbed their fifth of the evening from the penalty spot. With the last kick of the game, Williams stepped up again to power the penalty home and cap off a fine away performance under the lights at Stadium MK and to make it 27 goals in the U's last three games.
United Women are next in action at home on Sunday. The match against Gillingham is dedicated towards Breast Cancer Awareness Month with plenty going on during the day to help raise funds and awareness. We hope to see as many of you there as possible as the U’s look to make it four wins on the bounce.
UNITED: Watson, Clifford, Beaver (Baker), Sims, Searle, Hines (Moore), Lancaster (Kirby), McLachlan, Williams, Timms, Allen
Unused subs: Sercombe, Johns