Newbury kicked off the encounter and started brightly, with some good interplay between Ellie Reed, Caroline Harkness and Amie Barnard, which resulted in a goal attempt by striker, Bex Walker. The second chance came from a Reed long range shot, which evaded the cross-bar. And then somewhat against the run of play in the 14th minute, MK City opened the scoring after a cross on the right bounced in front of the Newbury keeper. There were appeals from the away side that the goalkeeper was unfairly challenged as she attempted to catch the ball. The loose ball was then stabbed into the net for one nil to MK City. Despite the Newbury appeals to the Referee, the goal stood.

Newbury rallied with the introduction of Maria Rodrigues up front and she was involved straight away, linking well with Reed. As the half hour mark approached, MK City forced two corners in quick succession. Harkness charged down a shot from the edge of the area from the second corner, but as Newbury’s back line came out after that clearance, MK City played a through ball that saw their striker steam through and slot the ball away well in the bottom corner for a two nil lead. Again Newbury battled from the re-start and just 5 minutes later, Barnard was through on goal before she was brought down by the on-rushing MK City goalkeeper. The Referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot and Leanne Saunders stepped up for Newbury to very coolly convert from 12 yards. 2-1 now the score-line.

In the final minute of the first half, MK City again found a cross from the right, which their striker acrobatically volleyed into the roof of the Newbury net. It was the goal of the match and it gave the home side a 3-1 lead at the break.

Newbury again pressed forward at the start of the second half, but their attacks faltered in the final third. On the break, MK City showed exactly the clinical finishing required, extending their lead with goals four and five in the 57th and 59th minutes. That quick brace effectively ending the contest, with 5-1 the final result and an emphatic victory for MK City.

Match Report by Sue Hewett