MK Dons inflict rare league defeat on Crawley Wasps

Crawley Wasps suffered only their third league defeat in 54 matches after a 1-0 loss to MK Dons on Sunday (September 27).
By Mark Dunford
Published 28th Sep 2020, 07:18 BST
Updated 28th Sep 2020, 07:22 BST
Holly Talbut-Smith (left) made her first start for Wasps after joining this summer (Picture: Ben Davidson Photography – www.bendavidsonphotography.com)Holly Talbut-Smith (left) made her first start for Wasps after joining this summer (Picture: Ben Davidson Photography – www.bendavidsonphotography.com)
Holly Talbut-Smith (left) made her first start for Wasps after joining this summer (Picture: Ben Davidson Photography – www.bendavidsonphotography.com)

Mollie Coupar scored the only goal of the game for the Dons in the second half of Wasps’ first fixture at Horley Town’s New Defence ground.

Wasps boss Dave Cole made three changes to the side that beat Hounslow 5-0 on opening day. New signings Holly Talbut-Smith and Immy Lancaster made their first starts, while former Wales international Emma Plewa also came in.

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Emma Plewa (right) was named Wasps’ player of the match (Picture: Ben Davidson Photography – www.bendavidsonphotography.com)Emma Plewa (right) was named Wasps’ player of the match (Picture: Ben Davidson Photography – www.bendavidsonphotography.com)
Emma Plewa (right) was named Wasps’ player of the match (Picture: Ben Davidson Photography – www.bendavidsonphotography.com)
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Plewa was later named Wasps’ player of the match by the club’s travel wear sponsors, Crawley Carpet Warehouse.

Wasps started brightly, Talbut-Smith testing Dons keeper Chloe Sansom after two minutes. At the other end, Wasps keeper Megen Lynch comfortably grasped Rhianne Rush’s long-range effort.

Crawley’s newcomers linked up well when Lancaster flicked through a pass to Talbut-Smith, who beat Sansom to the ball but sent her shot just wide of the right-hand post.

Plewa rifled a shot from the left-hand side at a tight angle, which skimmed the crossbar. Just before the break, Talbut-Smith had the ball in the back of the net but the goal was chalked off for offside.

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Wasps also looked sharp after the restart and chances from Plewa, Lancaster, Rachel Palmer and skipper Naomi Cole all fell just shy of the target.

But it was Milton Keynes who broke the deadlock with 13 minutes to play, Coupar latching onto the ball after a defensive mix-up and fired home.

Wasps will look to bounce back this Tuesday (September 29) when they visit Gillingham (7.45pm). After that, they travel to Oxford United on Sunday (October 4).

Wasps: Lynch; Nash, James, Russell, Palmer; McIntyre, Stow (Wignall 67); Plewa, Lancaster, Talbut-Smith (Stephens 67); Cole. Sub not used: Jackson.

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Related topics:MK Dons

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