Match report
Once again, the Dons dominated a game without being able to create sufficient clear chances for the strikers to convert.
Wimbledon started with same line up as for the Heybridge game, with Frankie Howard replacing Robin Shroot on the bench. With Jake Leberl not yet ready even for a fitness test, the new partnership of Goodliffe and Quinn continued in central defence.
Margate started well, attacking strongly down the right, their scouting no doubt having told them that the Dons' wingers don’t always get back, and so Garrard was under pressure for the first 15 minutes. But, as the game wore on, Wimbledon started to take the initiative and the danger receded, except for the occasional long ball beyond the defence, seeking to make use of the attackers’ pace.
As Wimbledon settled down, Finn started weaving his mazy magic, bamboozling the full back with astonishing ease. On the other flank, while more directly, Ferguson was making an impact too, unsettling former Wimbledon player Justin Skinner and contributing to the latter’s booking.
For all the pressure, there were few direct chances. Grazioli linked the play well but his only real chance was an overhead kick that went just wide, while Butler had a couple of half-chances. Nonetheless, Wimbledon nearly scored when Hatton’s shot from outside the area bounced awkwardly for the Margate ‘keeper who was fortunate to push the ball to safety via the post.
Against the run of play, Margate took the lead with a through ball to Pinnock, who scored with a well-hit shot via Little’s right hand post. It was a killer time to score, only a couple of minutes before half time.
Wimbledon were back on the pitch well before their opponents and started almost as if Margate weren’t there. Certainly, the Margate full back might as well not have turned out as Finn set about beating him at every turn. It seemed odd that the half time break had not seen Margate think about how to stop him but, if they had a tactic to do so, it failed comprehensively.
Surprisingly, given Finn's dominance, the equaliser came from the other wing. Ferguson took a sharp pass cleanly and, cutting in from the right, he struck a fine left-foot to the foot of the near post. Despite getting a hand to it, Chalmers-Stevens couldn’t keep it out and the Dons were level.
Chances, mainly half-chances, came and went but the Dons couldn’t get the winner. Hatton was subbed by Howard, with Quinn moving into midfield. Since his fine start to the season, Hatton seems to have lost confidence and he made little impact in this game. He is young and highly talented, so his time will come again, but right now manager Brown needs more immediate impact from his midfield.
Webb came on for Butler and then Beckford went off, limping, for Salmon to come on and make a better impact than against Heybridge. He too looks a ‘confidence player’ and this cameo appearance will have helped him.
There were no more goals and the game slowly fizzled out to a draw. This was the Dons’ fourth unbeaten game in a row, which gives some cause for hope, but there will need to be better service to the strikers if draws are to be turned into wins. Perhaps Terry Brown needs to look at the service from midfield before deciding whether his strikers are the ones he needs. |
35) Justin Skinner