Bedford 2nd vs Milton Keynes 1st

The ladies 1st XI got their season underway with an impressive 4-1 win over local rivals Bedford 2nd. Going into the game the 1st XI had strengthen their team with some new summer signings and with a new coaching team in place were ready to take on the formidable challenge of a Bedford side who play a division above them in their equivalent regional league.
The game was played in four quarters and at the end of the 1st quarter, MK could have been 2 or 3 goals to the good. Sophie Reynolds smashed the ball against an up-right from a short corner and the Bedford GK was forced to make a number of good saves. The new formation was working well with MK dominating possession and with Bedford finding it difficult to get out of their half, but despite their control MK were unable to convert their opportunities and the quarter ended 0-0.
After some sound words of advice from coach Dave Fenton, MK continued to boss the game into the 2nd quarter. New signing Thea Jackson was unlucky not to pick out Alice Vigor at the back post after another good short corner routine. MK were not to be denied however, after some good work down the right by Maxine McMenamin, Sophie Reynolds was again denied by an upright but this time Chrissy Little turned up in the 'ugly zone' to reverse sweep the rebounding ball into the net. MK headed into the half time break deservingly one nil to the good.
The third quarter saw Bedford come back into the match and start to give the MK defence something to think about. Both Steph Bates and Beth James had to make a number of important tackles and even when they were breached LJ was there to make an excellent one on one save. This seemed to spur MK back into life and the midfield including Laura Brown, Nuria Lavado and Lindsay Kettleborough wrestled back control of the game. It was the tireless efforts of the midfield that lead to another short corner, where new signing Mally Dolphin also popped up in the 'ugly zone' to bundle home the ball. MK weren't done yet and their efforts were further rewarded with another goal from the 'ugly zone'. The effort however was anything but ugly, with Sophie Reynold finally getting the rewards for her efforts, reverse scooping a rebound to put MK 3 up.
The final quarter was a more even affair with Bedford winning themselves a number of short corners. The defence held strong but eventually conceded from one, a strike from the top of the D finding the backboard. MK did not let this upset their rhythm and had not given up on scoring a fourth. Alice Vigor showed that her commitment levels hadn't reduced by tracking back and completing a full length diving tackle. This show of dedication reinvigorated the team and with time running out MK had left their best till last. Karmel Bracken, another new signing capped a commanding performance in midfield by setting up the final goal. She pick up the ball in midfield and ghosted past the Bedford defence sending an incisive ball out wide to Lisa Kavanagh, the move continued with Thea Jackson running free at the top of the D, the through ball from Lisa was emphatically dispatched via a stunning slap hit into the roof of the net.
The final whistle went straight after thus ensuring that MK ran out 4-1 winners.