MK City went on to show why they are this season’s early pace setters at the top of the Southern Region Premier Division, with far too much pace and power for Newbury. They had stormed into a 4 nil lead by half time.

Newbury rallied after the break and started to show some more spirit. Sam Atkins was moved into defence and made a lot of covering tackles and challenges. Kela Gunnlaugsdottirl and Caroline Harkness were getting through a huge workload in midfield and Nicole Beesley was starting to combine well with Lou Williamson up front. When Newbury played the ball out to Leanne Creese on the flank, she was able to deliver several good crosses from the right. Something that had been lacking from Newbury’s play in the first half.

They were unable to capitalise however and MK City had more joy on the break, extending their lead by a further two goals. Before some very neat interplay between Harkness and Beesley just outside the area, saw Beesley strike a curling effort high into the net and beyond the reach of the home goal keeper. It lifted her side briefly, but was not enough. 6-1 now the score, with only 15 minutes remaining.

Milton Keynes turned the screw further in the final ten minutes, breaching the Newbury defence twice more to achieve a very convincing 8-1 home win.

Report by Sue Hewett