Manager highlights belief ahead of Carshalton
AFC Wimbledon Ladies take on Carshalton Athletic this Sunday with renewed belief after they marched to the top of the table in great style.
Manager Chris Lyons engineered a win at Fulham Foundation FC last Sunday that was sweet revenge for an FA Women’s Cup knockout by the same opponents last month.
“I was extremely happy with all my players,” Chris said. “They coped with Fulham’s attacking options well. The victory has given us a lift, and instilled further confidence into the squad. We know we can match any team in this league, but it’s a question of consistency, and carrying it through week after week. We have another tough game at home to Carshalton, and we go into the game with even more confidence and belief.”
Victoria Petrova was Wimbledon’s match-winner in the 2-1 victory against Fulham as she struck her second of the game in the last minute of normal time.
minute to put Wimbledon in charge and Fulham’s goal in the seventh minute of injury-time came too late to stop the Dons leapfrogging them as league leaders.th Petrova (pictured) had earlier struck in the 50
Dons goalkeeper Liane Tylee had to undergo lengthy treatment after a goalmouth scramble and she got down well to make a great save from Fulham captain Gemma Fraser. However, Wimbledon dealt with the pressure well for the rest of the first-half. New signing Sian Houghton-North made a favourable impression on her debut, particularly in the first-half when Wimbledon had to withstand early pressure.
And it was a different story in the second-half as Wimbledon made the most of having the wind behind them. The breakthrough came five minutes after half-time when Petrova reacted first to fire home after a corner had only been half cleared. Though top scorer Caz Bisson missed chances to extend the advantage, Petrova headed home emphatically after a well delivered corner from Libby Suchley.
A Fulham goal in injury-time was purely of consolation value and Wimbledon will be aiming to consolidate their position with victory at home to Carshalton Athletic.