Callum's double sparks win for Under-18s
There was no stopping AFC Wimbledon Under-18s once again on Saturday as they took their goals tally to nine in two games with an emphatic victory against Dagenham & Redbridge.
Following their 5-1 win against Milton Keynes last weekend, Dagenham were this time on the receiving end as Mark Robinson’s side earned a 4-0 win.
Callum Overton (pictured) struck twice with Ollie Haines also on target and Egli Kaja rounding it off by heading home the goal of the day.
The Dons entertained Micah Hyde’s Dagenham side without George Oakley, Dan Pearse and Rob Switon as those three players were back training with the Under-21s. This meant that Wimbledon fielded a side of first-year scholars and Under-16 Neset Bellikli was included in the starting line-up.
It did not take long for Wimbledon to make a breakthrough as they opened the scoring with three minutes on the clock. Man of the match Taylor Roles was the instigator as he released Overton, who steadied himself before finishing emphatically from 15 yards. The Dons doubled their advantage just a few minutes later when Billy Frost picked out Dan Agyei and though his shot never quite had enough pace to find the net after beating the goalkeeper, Overton followed up to make it 2-0.
Wimbledon threatened a third goal with Roles, Bellikli, Kaja, Frost and Agyei all going close, but the Dons had to maintain their discipline in defence for a spell before half-time as the talented Jodi Jones started to influence matters.
However, Wimbledon held firm until half-time and gradually gained the upper hand again after the break. Ben Harrison had a powerful strike brilliantly saved before the third goal arrived thanks to Haines. The substitute found space on the far post to make it three after more great work from Frost. The best was still to come with eight minutes left when the excellent Callum Wilson swung in a superb cross that Kaja met with a spectacular diving header.
The overall performance from Wimbledon was particularly pleasing for Academy Head Coach Mark Robinson, but he knows that his side face bigger tests in the coming weeks with Luton Town and Colchester United up next.
“To score nine goals in two games is obviously a pleasing statistic,” said Mark. “I thought that we played some good football in spells and got our mixture of short and long passing right. The thing that pleased me most though was our bravery from throw-ins that allowed us to keep possession and the forward runs we produced to break their lines.
“We’ve worked a lot on these aspects in training and it’s always pleasing when our players take what they’ve learned into matches. We now face two of the top teams in our league with Luton and Colchester to come. I will be watching keenly in training to see the players that are ready to relish these challenges.”