FA Women’s National League One (South-East)
Team: Clarke, Searle, Brooks, Gotch, Lewin, D’Santos, Hill, Mehmet, Orchard, Stanley, Dzyadyk
Subs: El-Bergui, Makowska, Blodgett, Owen, Wellesley-Davies, Ali, Leach,
Attendance: 312
Sammy collected Ron Hill and I from Park Royal for the opening league match of the season at the Stadium MK.
With a good number of R’s fans in attendance, the Rangers players lined-up in green and white hoops.
It was the hosts who started off on the front-foot and Jaime Gotch cleared the ball off the line from their first corner.
This was soon followed by an unmarked MK Dons player poking the ball wide of the target.
However, Rangers grew into the game, with new signing Fern Orchard putting over a great ball into the box, but Grace Stanley couldn’t quite reach it.
Rangers took the lead on 15 minutes, when Grace Stanley’s angled drive found the far corner.
Five minutes or so later, after the R’s striker had cut-in from the right, Jamie-Lee Bamford palmed the ball over the bar.
Rangers doubled their lead after 20 minutes when Georgie Lewin found Ellie Searle, who in turn proceeded to the bye-line, before setting up Grace Stanley in the six-yard box for a tap-in.
Following a through ball into the Rangers box, Mollie Knox went down in need of some attention, and eventually she had to be replaced.
For the R’s, an unmarked Fern Orchard shot wide of the target from close range.
A long ball out to Annie Dzyadyk resulted in the R’s winger’s powerful cross being palmed away by the keeper.
Ten minutes before the break, the away side not surprisingly went further ahead. Grace Stanley superbly completed her hat-trick following a low pass.
Closing in on the interval, a great ball into the box from Annie Dzyadyk resulted in an R’s player colliding with the keeper. Half-time: 3-0.
Into the second-half, and with the hosts still playing a high-line, a Rangers free kick from a central area was headed into Bamford’s gloves.
Danny Harrigan made his first change on 52 minutes when Natalia Makowska replaced Annie Dzyadyk.
After the ball had dropped to Grace Stanley, the R’s No.9 belted it over the crossbar.
Following a superb interception by Ellie Searle, the Rangers full-back then took the ball away before successfully laying it off.
Elora Hardstaff booked Emily Hill for a messy challenge on an opponent.
It became 4-0 on 61 minutes when Melis Mehmet took control of a loose ball, before setting-up Fern Orchard, who then side-footed it home.
This was followed by Lily Wellesley-Davies coming on for Ellie Searle and shortly after that Fran Ali and Aya El Bergui were introduced at the expense of Meila D’Santos and Fern Orchard respectively.
Grace Stanley scored her fourth and Rangers’ fifth when she took possession of a through ball, and although the keeper got a touch, she couldn’t keep it out.
As a drinks break was underway, the final change was made which saw Jess Leach replace Melis Mehmet.
After Jess Leach was brought down in the box the R’s substitute stepped up and placed the ball, low in the corner.
Emily Hill’s audacious 30+-yard lob was knocked onto the crossbar and the keeper then managed to get down and grab hold of the ball.
Fran Ali was booked following a tug on an opponent’s shirt.
Rangers were still dominating proceedings and knocking the ball around nicely, but a rare attempt from the hosts saw their No.9 shooting over the crossbar.
After the R’s had won a corner two minutes from time, the ball was knocked behind and the next time Billie Brooks flicked the ball home for goal number seven.
Next up for Danny Harrigan’s side was the National League Cup tie against Chesham United at the Meadow.
Steve Russell