Match report: Cardiff City LFC 0-2 MK Dons WFC

An early goal and a second half sending off saw Cardiff City Ladies drop three points at home to MK Dons Women in the FAWNL Southern Premier Division.  

The Dragons came into this game hoping to build on their momentum after being four games unbeaten in all competitions against an inform MK Dons side. 

City started the game slowly and found themselves a goal down just after three minutes after a dangerous ball was fired into the box by Laura Mitchell and cooly dispatched by MK Dons striker Adekite Fatuga-Dada. 

Despite conceding Cardiff started to grow into the game and began manufacturing attacks through Ellie Sargent who was lively throughout the opening stages. On the 13th minute Sargent found herself in a shooting position but her shot was comfortably dealt with by Dons keeper Chloe Samsom. 

After a cagey start the Dragons found themselves keeping their shape efficiently and in doing soprevented many MK Dons attacks.  

Emily Poole played a vital role at the centre of midfield, keeping MK Dons at bay snuffing out any hints of counter attacks with tenacious tackling and anticipating any potential passes. 

The combative nature of the first half was shown as at the end of the half there was a flurry of yellow cards. Cori Williams, Chloe Lloyd and Cerys Jones all found themselves in the referee’s book in the space of a couple of minutes. 

Cardiff headed into the half with the early goal as the only thing separating them from the Dons in what was a very evenly contested first half. 

The second half kicked off and once again Sargent found herself in dangerous spaces but couldn’t manage to make use of the space given to her. 

MK Dons forward, Fatuga-Dada, was pushing for her second goal of the game and she went close just after the 60th minute mark. Ever present goalkeeper, Laura O’Sullivan held her ground and made an impressive save down low to her right to prevent Fatuga-Dada fromdoubling the lead. 

The Dragons responding well to Dons pressure and drove up the pitch.

Following some more intricate attacking play Sargent found herself with an opportunity to test Samson but her effort was once again claimed by the MK Dons stopper. 

Fatuga-Dada was again proving herself to be a threat and her ambitious freekick effort from the left side of the box cannoned off the left post and flashed across the Cardiff box. 

It wouldn’t be long until Dons added another to their tally with Tricia Gould working her way into the box and slotting into the bottom right corner.  

After conceding a second, Cardiff showed some fightback with Poole battling for the ball on the wing and beating her defender with some silky footwork before sending an inviting ball into the box which was claimed confidently by Samson. 

On the 85th minute Lloyd saw red for a second yellow card of the game after a foul on a MK player around the half way line which left a lot of space for the Dons to play into.

The dragons held on for the remainder of the match but MK Dons took away a valuable three points from Amdani Hi. 

City will be looking to put this game behind them after the international break where they face Ipswich at home on Sunday the 5th of November. 

Report by Ioan Thomas

Photos by Ian Lovell