Milton Keynes Dons Women delivered a dominant home display to defeat Nantwich Town (W) 3-0 in the English FA Women’s Cup on 25 October 2026. A strong start, a well-managed second half and a clean sheet made this a satisfying cup tie for the hosts, who never allowed Nantwich to settle into a comfortable rhythm.

Match overview

Milton Keynes Dons Women set the tone early, pressing high and forcing Nantwich into hurried clearances. The opening goal settled any nerves and gave the home side the freedom to play. Nantwich responded with a spell of possession, but they struggled to turn that into clear chances, and MK Dons doubled their lead before the interval with a move that exposed the visiting defence.

The second half was more controlled than explosive. MK Dons managed the tempo, kept their shape and added a third goal to remove any doubt. Nantwich worked hard and had moments in wide areas, but the home defence held firm and the goalkeeper was rarely tested by a shot from inside the box.

Key moments

• Early opener: MK Dons took the lead inside the opening exchanges after winning the ball high and finishing calmly.
• Second before the break: A quick passing sequence opened up Nantwich and gave the hosts a two-goal cushion at half-time.
• Third goal after the restart: MK Dons added another with a composed finish, effectively ending Nantwich’s hopes of a comeback.
• Clean sheet secured: The home back line dealt with late pressure and set pieces to preserve the shutout.

Tactical story

MK Dons’ midfield trio was central to the win. They pressed as a unit, recycled possession efficiently and kept Nantwich from building through the middle. The home full-backs pushed forward to create width, which stretched the visiting defence and opened gaps between the centre-backs and full-backs.

Nantwich’s best route forward was through direct play and second balls, but MK Dons won most of those duels. When the visitors did get into wide areas, the crosses were contested well and the home goalkeeper commanded the area.

Standout performers

The MK Dons No. 10 was the creative hub, linking midfield and attack and playing a part in the first two goals. The centre-back pairing was composed throughout, while the defensive midfielder covered ground effectively and broke up Nantwich’s counter-attacks. For Nantwich, the goalkeeper made several saves and the captain worked tirelessly in midfield.

Cup impact

This is a convincing cup result for Milton Keynes Dons Women, who advance with momentum and a clean sheet. The performance showed they can control a tie from start to finish. Nantwich Town (W) exit the competition, but the experience of a demanding away tie will be useful as they return to league action.

Full-time: Milton Keynes Dons Women 3-0 Nantwich Town (W).