Match report
AFC Wimbledon made it two wins out of two with a hard fought victory over an injury-hit Wealdstone side. Richard Jolly opened the scoring after just three minutes, following up Jason Goodliffe's low drive to slot from two yards out. Former Don, Lee O'Leary equalized with a thundering free-kick strike from twenty yards after Andy Little handled outside the box. Parity would last just 13 minutes and, when Steve Ferguson was hauled down in the penalty area, Daniel Webb stepped up to seal the points for the visitors, tucking away his first goal for the club from the spot.
With visibility clouded by a light drizzle and the eleventh hour introduction of floodlighting, one thing was clear: Terry Brown had made no changes to the 16-man squad that beat Ramsgate on Saturday. The Stones, fresh from thumping Folkestone Invicta 4-1, were less fortunate, with Gordon Bartlett unable to call on key players Marcus Gross or Dean Papali.
Nonetheless, the hosts nearly took the lead inside a minute. Jason Goodliffe's loose ball into midfield was seized upon by Jason Norville and he fired a low shot past Andy Little that cannoned back off the post. Moments later, the Dons' stopper had to be alert to whip the ball off Peter Dean's toes as he bore down on goal.
An all-action first five minutes continued at the other end, when Daniel Webb outfoxed Stones' keeper Swain in the air but couldn't apply the final touch. From the subsequent corner Richard Jolly put the Dons ahead. An out-swinging Sam Hatton delivery from the right was only half dealt with and, when the ball was driven back into the box, Goodliffe forced a fine parry from Swain before Jolly converted the rebound.
Robert Quinn nearly extended the visitors' lead, his deft right-footed flick narrowly clearing the near post from another Hatton delivery.
Wealdstone responded well and tried to take the game to their opponents, without creating anything clear cut. Their endeavour was rewarded, however, on 30 minutes after an uncharacteristic mistake by Little. The Dons keeper fumbled what seemed a straightforward catch and then handled outside the area. His yellow card punishment was compounded when Lee O'Leary hammered in a well worked free-kick routine from the edge of the box.
Just a minute later another sloppy ball across the defensive line gifted Norville his second chance of the evening. Attempting placement over power, he beat Little but shaved the outside of the left-hand post.
Wimbledon were looking bereft of ideas going forward, so Terry Brown shook things up by getting wingers Steve Ferguson and Tony Finn to swap flanks. It paid dividends almost immediately with Ferguson, now on the left, racing past two defenders only to be upended in the box. Daniel Webb struck the ball forcefully to Swain's left and the Dons would have an undeserved half time lead.
After the break the Stones attempted to dictate the tempo as before. Luke Muldowney was allowed to run half the length of the field, unleashing a fierce drive that whisked over the bar. But it was the last meaningful attempt the home side would have as the Dons finally found their groove and dominated the second period.
With Wealdstone's fledgling defence becoming more and more stretched Brown's men had several good chances to put the match beyond reach. Swain was equal to Richard Jolly's shot on the spin, saving low to his left. Ferguson shinned an effort across the six-yard box after a great run. Swain then made another fine block at the feet of Daniel Webb in the six-yard box.
Robert Quinn headed Michael Haswell's dipping free-kick against the cross bar and Sam Hatton watched his twenty yard drive thud off the right hand post with the clock ticking down.
Supporters will remember this match as the archetypal 'game of two halves'. Terry Brown will, no doubt, be delighted that his charges were able to raise their second half performance and hold on to all three points. |
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