Ladies aim to get back to winning ways
AFC Wimbledon Ladies will be aiming to maintain their challenge at the top when they travel to Norwich on Sunday.
A 1-0 home loss to Cambridge last time out knocked Wimbledon off the top with the victors replacing them as leaders, but manager Chris Lyons was pleased with his side’s performance and he believes it offers encouragement for the rest of this season.
Having only been promoted last season, the Dons occupy second place in FA Women’s Premier League South East Division One.
“I thought we were unlucky to come away from the game with nothing,” said Chris Lyons. “We were slow to start and Cambridge capitalised on this, but we got ourselves back into the game well. Second-half we put them (Cambridge) on the back foot and we looked very strong. I thought our players were superb.
“We were very unlucky to have a goal disallowed, and to also have a penalty shout turned down. The result was decided on two very tight decisions and on another day it could have gone our way. Sometimes football can be a cruel game. This weekend we’re travelling up to Norwich, and we will be looking to get back to winning ways.”
minute against Cambridge United and that turned out to be the only goal. Goalkeeper Tash Salgado couldn’t quite manage to collect a cross and Nicole Perschky fired home from close range.thThe Dons fell behind in the 13
After going 1-0 down, the Dons bounced back well, creating a number of chances, including defender Sami Bock hitting the crossbar from a 25-yard free kick. There were a number of further chances in the first half for the Dons but they couldn’t find the back of the net. Just before the half- time whistle, Cambridge were handed the chance to go 2-0 up when the referee blew for a penalty. Unfortunately for Cambridge, the ball was put high over the cross bar and the score remained at 1-0.
The second-half saw more chances for the Dons to equalise, but a stubborn Cambridge defence stopped them from finding the equaliser. Possibly the best chance for the Dons came 70 minutes in as the Cambridge keeper made a good stop from Abi Fever, before Hannah Billingham slotted the ball into the net. However, the offside flag went up and the Dons were denied a share of the spoils that they perhaps deserved.
AFC Wimbledon Ladies: Salgado, Houghton-North, Bock, Wylie, Billingham, Poole (Low 83), Trimmell, Sargent, Searle, Fever, Curtis (Keady 75). Subs not used: Chase, Klatt, O'Halloran.