Ladies seek to extend winning sequence
AFC Wimbledon Ladies will tomorrow night bid to maintain their 100 per cent league record when they host Denham United (7.45 pm kick-off at Sutton United).
The Dons are currently flying high in South East Division One after making it three wins out of three in style by beating Norwich Ladies 3-0 last time out.
With only two changes from their dominant display at Milton Keynes, Wimbledon weathered early pressure from the visitors to take control of the game. But for a fine display from the Norwich keeper, they could easily have been out of sight by half time.
The fine saves from Fiona Coombes started within minutes as Wimbledon opened up the visitors’ defence. Kelly Jade-Whelan was first denied, before Georgie O’Halloran had a long distance effort turned around the posts. Coombes was soon at it again with close range shots from Whelan and Caz Bisson saved.
However, the breakthrough arrived in the 23rd minute when captain Jess Trimnell headed home a Sian Wylie corner to give the Dons a well-earned lead.
Throughout the second-half, the Dons continued to push for the win, playing some superb fluid football in the process. After periods of pressure, the second goal came from another Wylie corner with Whelan losing her marker to head the ball home on 52 minutes. Whelan turned provider 15 minutes later when she set-up strike partner Bisson, who finished clinically.
Manager Chris Lyons said: “I was very happy again with the players and how they approached the game. Norwich set up how we thought they would by packing out their midfield to try and stop us playing. We utilised our wide areas well, and just like the Plymouth game, went around their midfield. I thought their keeper put in a fine performance, and we would have been comfortably ahead by half time, but for her saves.
“All our substitutes again had a good impact, and kept Norwich pegged back in their own half. That’s also our second clean sheet, and our league position looks good. However we can’t get carried away as we’ve got a busy three weeks, including games midweek and on Sundays. The squad is going to be tested so we’ll just focus on one game at a time and keep working hard.”
AFC Wimbledon: Salgado, Wylie (Poole 67), Houghton-North (Billingham 72), Bock, Klatt, O’Halloran, Trimnell, Searle, Keady (Low 74) Whelan, Bisson. Subs not used Chase, Sargent.