Women's Report | MK Dons 0-4 Norwich City

A second-half Grace Riglar hat-trick helped seal all three points on the road for Norwich City Women as they beat MK Dons 4-0.

A second-half Grace Riglar hat-trick helped seal all three points on the road for Norwich City Women as they beat MK Dons 4-0.

Natasha Snelling opened the scoring just after half-time, whilst the City top-scorer took her goal tally to 16 in all competitions.

Poppy Groves made her full debut for the Canaries, as Andy Cook made two changes to the side that beat AFC Sudbury earlier in the week.

Lara Densley also made her return to the squad in place of Freya Symonds, who moved to the bench.

Holly Kennard had the first shot at goal after a lovely through-ball from Evie Williams found the winger at a great angle to shoot, but she fired off-target.

A dangerous low ball in from Millie Daviss reached Densley in the box but she couldn't get enough power on her effort to beat Jamie-Lee Bamford and the follow-up from Snelling was blocked and sent behind for a corner.

Kim Farrow had MK Dons' first shot just after 20 minutes played, firing beyond Quantrill but just wide of the left post.

The forward then took aim a second time, this time with a header from point-blank range but Quantrill was equal to it and parried the ball away to safety.

Densley had another opportunity to find the breakthrough with a shot from inside the Dons area, but again was blocked by Bamford.

The final chance came through Holly Kennard, who floated a ball over the top into the box but Harrison was just a stretch too far from the cross to tap home.

It didn't take long for the Canaries to take the lead in the second half, as Kennard raced down the left wing to cross into the box and it was Snelling who beautifully flicked the ball into the bottom-right corner on 48 minutes.

Norwich then doubled the lead just five minutes later as Harrison set-up Riglar to send a low ball into the exact same corner to make it 2-0.

The Dons stopper then spilled a strong effort from Emily Wallace on the edge of the area, but she was just quick enough to recover the ball from Densley waiting to pounce.

City did eventually get a third with 20 left to play, Riglar netting again after the Dons failed to clear a scramble in the box.

Riglar then sealed the win with a brilliant effort after Symonds cut a cross back towards goal and city's top scorer fired it home with her first touch to make it four.

The win puts the Canaries back on top of the Division One South East table as Fulham were out of action again this weekend.

MK Dons: Bamford; Cuttman, O'Neil (Pollard 62), Ridley; Carnevale, Lempek (Ebrahim 72), Lemon, Sarll; Omenazu (C) (Rukaj 88), Farrow (Day 62), De Villiers (Birkett 83).

Unused subs: Bishop-Jones, Jacovides.

Bookings: Lemon (90)

Norwich City: Quantrill (C); Daviss (Bishop 79), Riglar, Williams (Flye 90), Wallace; Groves (Wilson 85), King (Strauss 89); Harrison, Kennard; Densley (Symonds 90), Snelling.

Unused subs: Mears, Cook.

Goals: Snelling (48), Riglar (53, 71, 92)

HT: 0-0

FT: 0-4

Venue: Bedford Town Football Club

Referee: Patrick O'Reilly

Attendance: 216