The Dons extended the unbeaten league run to an incredible 9 games as they overcame a strong London Seaward side 2-0 at the Mile End Stadium thanks to a brace from Ashlee Hincks. The Dons went into the game on the back of a hard fought win at Enfield on Sunday knowing that with Hashtag and Billericay playing each other there was a chance to make up some ground on the top 2.
The Dons made a positive start to the game with wide players Chloe Sampson and Gloria Siber creating several half chances in the opening 10 minutes. The Dons kept applying the pressure and got their reward after 16 minutes as Gloria SIber was brought down inside the penalty area allowing Ashlee Hincks to open the scoring from the penalty spot. It was Ashlee’s 20th goal of the season after only 20 games. The Dons seemed determined to add to their positive start and kept creating half chances. Chances for Ashlee Hincks and Chloe Sampson came to nothing as London Seaward hung in to try and find their way into the game. Seaward improved as the first half went on and it was only some fine defending from Hannah Billingham that kept the Dons ahead. The Dons had another penalty appeal in the dying seconds of the first half however the referee waved off the Dons appeals after Gloria Siber was again brought down inside the penalty area.
The Dons had the dream start to the second half as Ashlee Hincks got her and the Dons second when she headed home from a pinpoint cross from Hannah Billingham less than 2 minutes into the second half. The rest of the half was a scrappy affair with the only highlights being a long range shot from Rosie Russell forcing the Seaward keeper into a fine save and at the other end Kelly Highman with some excellent defensive work to break up a threatening Seaward counter attack. Despite the difficult conditions the Dons kept going in search for a third keen not to repeat the mistakes of Sunday against Enfield where we sat deep and allowed them a route back into the game. However there were no further goals and the Dons ended with a much deserved 2-0 victory. Elsewhere Hashtag United remained top of the league after they held on to a home victory against second placed Billericay.
The Dons travel to Hashtag on Sunday for our third away game in 8 days as we look for a repeat of our win over Hashtag earlier this season in the Vitality Women’s FA Cup. The Dons will travel to Canvey Island knowing a win would take them even closer to the league winners whilst still having the home game against them to come and two games in hand.
Ashlee Hincks said “I thought we played some really good football. I think our performance against Enfield wasn’t anywhere near our best but we ground out the result but today for periods we really controlled the game, we got the ball down and played on a difficult pitch”
Dons coach Jacob Miller said “In the first half similar to last week we were very good and then in the second half we kept battling, kept plugging away and kept the clean sheet. 2-0 a good result”
Dons: Faye Baker, Rosie Russell, Kelly Highman, Rebecca Sargent (Angel Fowler), Hannah Billingham, Steph Mann (Molly Childerhouse), Emily Donovan, Megan Stow (Emily Oliver), Chloe Sampson (Rebecca Carter), Ashlee Hincks, Gloria Siber (Katie Stanley)