Match report
The rejigged Dons returned to winning ways and the top of the table with a comfortable win over Altrincham. Two Danny Kedwell strikes at either end of the first half were enough to see off the league’s basement club as Wimbledon produced a much improved display. Jon Main, Ricky Wellard, Rashid Yussuff and Fraser Franks all started, as injuries and Christian Jolley’s suspension forced Terry Brown to ring the changes.
What a difference a referee makes. The previous Saturday a technically correct one ensured that the game never flowed, whereas on this Tuesday evening Mr Handly was equally correct, but made good use of advantage, and only showed yellow cards late in the game. The 901 hardy souls in attendance were thereby treated to some entertainment, which ultimately is the purpose of travelling from your home to watch a game. Over 200 AFC Wimbledon supporters were at Moss Lane; for those Dons based up North this was a local game, but for those from South London and Surrey it was a long midweek journey.
Having failed to score in their last two matches, the Dons broke that drought in just 26 seconds as Wellard’s perfectly weighted pass sent Kedwell clear. With the Altrincham defence flat-footed, he ran on to coolly beat Stuart Coburn in the Altrincham goal.
After that the Dons never looked back, as the midfield, led by the impressive Yussuff, proceeded to impose themselves on their Altrincham counterparts. Ryan Jackson, fed by Sam Hatton and Yussuff, was taking on and beating opponents, in particular Ryan Brown, at will, but was never quite was able to deliver a telling cross.
On 19 minutes Altrincham created their first real chance, but Wes Baynes’ through-ball just eluded Nicky Clee’s outstretched leg, and Seb Brown was able to gather. At the other end Main and Wellard combined to find Kedwell in space, but he slipped as he shot. The Dons continued to dominate, playing their flowing, passing game. On 27 minutes Hatton drove narrowly over the bar from a free-kick on the edge of the area.
A couple of minutes later, Marc Joseph’s free-kick at the other end was headed well wide by Michael Twiss, and on 34 minutes the ever-lively Clee produced the home side’s best effort, forcing a fine save from Brown with a powerful shot from 20 yards. At the other end, Andy Milne’s perfectly timed tackle was all that prevented Jackson from running clear on goal after Brown’s quick delivery.
Wimbledon’s passing game forced the second goal that their dominance warranted in the last minute of normal time in the half. Yussuff turned superbly just outside his own box before carrying the ball into the opposition half. A perfectly weighted ball into Hatton’s path allowed him to cross first time for Kedwell to unleash a stunning right-footed volley into the far corner of Coburn’s goal. The half-time lead was no less than the Dons deserved.
The half-time talk in the press box among the local media was about the quality of the passing and movement of the Wimbledon players. The usual ex-pro from the Press Association was also hugely impressed.
Altrincham, driven on by Clee, started the second half with more purpose. His free-kick was blocked by Yussuff before Brown punched his corner out for a long throw that was met by Rob Williams, who headed narrowly wide.
The Dons soon began to impose themselves again. On 55 minutes Wellard’s neat through-ball was just too strong for Main, who performed with much purpose. Two minutes later Yussuff set up Wellard, but his fierce shot was aimed straight at Coburn. Although the Dons were creating chances, with Jackson in particular finding the space to cross, time after time the final touch eluded them.
Out of nowhere on 70 minutes Twiss produced a stunning volley to beat Brown, only to see the goal correctly ruled out for offside. The home bench were not amused, and eventually their rage saw the excellent referee come over and ask them to calm down. He was not going to change his mind, especially as he had consulted his assistant, who was in line with the play, before making his decision.
Wellard fired narrowly over before Yussuff was denied the goal his performance richly deserved. His superb 20-yard strike came back off the underside of the bar and hit the post before bouncing off the keeper for a corner. Although Mark Nwokeji looked lively after he replaced Main, and the Dons continued to press, the game drifted toward its end without much further incident of note.
This was a welcome return to form, and the Dons will be hoping for a similar performance when they return to the North-West on Saturday for a potentially trickier encounter with Barrow.
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