Cheltenham deliver another thumping to MK Dons Women

MK Dons Women’s difficult start to the season continued on Sunday as they were thumped 5-0 by Cheltenham Town.

After their opening day 7-0 defeat at Exeter City last week, the managerless Dons, led by interim head coach Dene Walsh, are still very much a work in progress as they look to gel a new team together following the summer’s exodus.

Cheltenham meanwhile, who swept aside Plymouth in their opening game 4-0, got off to a flying start at Stadium MK, and raced into a 3-0 advantage by the interval.

They could have led in the opening two minutes with two great chances, but Dons keeper Anna Draper tipped a long-range effort onto the bar, and Una Lue missed a follow-up. But when Draper brought down Lue after 20 minutes, Robins skipper Emily Owen converted from the spot to give the visitors the lead.

Two minutes later, they doubled their lead when Lue nodded in Lacy-Jai Liggett’s cross, before Liggett went from provider to scorer to make it 3-0.

It could have been even worse just before half-time when Dons gave away a second penalty of the afternoon, but Draper this time made a brilliant stop from the spot to deny Ffion Llewellyn.

Not long after the restart, Cheltenham added a fourth with Lue’s second as she headed past Draper, before the visitors added a fifth midway through the second-half when Henna Butcher converted from close range to make it 5-0.

Draper was by far the busier keeper in the closing stages, called into action to deny Doris Greenwood and Connie Pengelly to keep the score to five at the full-time whistle.

Dons will have little time to dwell on it, with a trip to Real Bedford - where many of last season’s squad are now playing, led by former manager Charlie Bill - in the FA Women's National League Cup.