The clash with the champions was a learning experience for MK Dons Women
League champions Fulham gave MK Dons Women a taste of what it takes to compete at the top, with a 3-0 win at Craven Cottage.
Fadi Mazloum’s side secured their league safety last week with a 1-0 win over Dulwich Hamlet, but the Cottagers provided a much firmer test, and scored their three goals in a 26-minute first-half spell on home soil to effectively wrap the game up before the break.
Dons were able to shut the champions out in the second-half though, and had a few chances themselves to get on the scoresheet, but came up just short.
“The girls believe, you can see we can do it. Now we just have to push on for the final two games,” said Mazloum afterwards. “It was a game of two halves. Fulham came out really wanting it in the first-half and showed their quality and scored their goals.
“We regrouped in the second-half and saw what we could do. Keeping it to 0-0 in the second-half against a team who has won the league is a commendable effort from the girls.
“At half-time, we were quite positive. We had spells where we were keeping the ball, bouncing it around and that was what our message was. We recognised where Fulham were capitalising and we nullified that. From there, we pushed on to get the draw in the second-half and showed we can compete with a team who has won the league.”
Forward Annaliza Jacovides said Dons knew they would be in for a test at Craven Cottage, and felt proud of her team-mates for their second-half performance in particular.
She said: “I’m proud of the girls, we put in a good shift, and fair play to Fulham. They’re a good side, they’ve won the league so we knew it would be tough. We had a few spells, a couple of chances and I think we did well. The result is unfortunate but we put in a good shift.
“In the first 20 minutes we were solid but we conceded, things we can work on. But it was a good turnaround in the second half. We stopped them, didn’t let them breathe in the second-half.
“We’ve got two more games to go, one last push and then onto next year.”
Continue Reading