Match report
The Cherry Red Records Fans’ Stadium saw its first glimpse of Terry Brown’s new look Wimbledon side today in an entertaining 2-0 win over FC United of Manchester. Despite Sam Hatton’s penalty being saved, goals from new signings Daniel Webb and Anthony Finn were enough to give Wimbledon their second pre-season victory in recent years over the fellow supporter-owned club. The starting line-up fielded by Brown looked strong and it remained unchanged for 75 minutes.
Wimbledon quickly took hold of the game and pressured FCUM from the off. Webb headed over from a corner before finding some space in the area a few minutes later, only for his shot to be hit straight at the ‘keeper. On 13 minutes Steve Ferguson found himself clean through after good work from Richard Jolly but FCUM keeper Sam Ashton pulled off the first of many fine saves. Just after the twenty minute mark Wimbledon were given the break their pressure deserved when the referee gave a penalty for a holding offence committed by centre-back Rob Nugent. However Hatton could not grab his second goal of the pre-season campaign as Ashton saved well. The Dons were not deterred though and continued to attack. Two Hatton efforts, albeit that one was from a corner, were cleared off the line and a Ferguson cut-back was intercepted just before Jolly could hit the ball into an empty net.
Wimbledon finally took the lead on 43 minutes when a good team move culminated in a Steve Ferguson cross being headed home by the impressive Daniel Webb. The lead was quickly doubled on the stroke of half-time when Anthony Finn won the ball from the FCUM right-back before cutting inside and putting the ball through the goalkeeper’s legs. Wimbledon certainly went in at half-time the happier side, having restricted the opposition to just a few speculative efforts while creating plenty of chances themselves.
FC United made four changes at half-time and it seemed to force a much more even affair with both sides having good chances to change the scoreline. Andy Little was called into action early when he had to be quick off his line to halt a FCUM breakaway with a great challenge outside his area. He was called into action again 10 minutes into the half when he saved well at his near post. In spite of this pressure Wimbledon still looked dangerous on the break and Anthony Finn almost scored his second goal of the game when his outrageous long-range effort rattled the crossbar. The game soon became end-to-end stuff with both sides attacking and finding space amid tiring legs. Jolly had a shot saved when he was clean through and Finn ran half the pitch before lobbing the keeper only to see his effort headed off the line. FC United were not without chances either - a corner routine reminiscent of the Beckham and Scholes practice that was so memorable almost bore fruit but the long-range volley went wide.
A flurry of late substitutions, including the return of Anthony Howard, broke the game’s momentum slightly but there was still enough time for another impressive Wimbledon passing move to be thwarted by man of the match Sam Ashton. Andy Little was also called into action once more to deny FCUM the consolation goal their support and their second-half display had deserved. An acrobatic volley from FC United captain Chadwick was saved well by the Wimbledon number one.
The final whistle drew to a close an entertaining game that underlined the potential of Terry Brown’s new squad in comparison with last year’s side that lost the corresponding fixture. There seems to be a real buzz about the new season after such an impressive performance and if there were any fans at the ground today who were still undecided as to whether to support the Dons fully this year their minds must surely now be made up.
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