Draw for young Dons and Will impresses at Staines
AFC Wimbledon Under-18s pulled off a stunning second-half comeback on Saturday, but Academy Manager Mark Robinson was far from happy with his side’s performance.
The Dons youngsters were 2-0 down at half-time against Southend United at our New Malden training complex on Saturday, but goals from George Oakley and Harlan Basker secured a 2-2 draw at the end.
However, Mark said: “It was a really bad first-half and I was very disappointed as we did not play at all. There was no cohesion and we resorted to long balls, which is not like us. It was our worst performance since the opening day defeat at Portsmouth. At half-time we brought on Khan Williams and Charlie Craig in central midfield and they turned the game. We dominated from the start of the second-half and got ourselves level. We then had two or three good chances to win it. In the second-half we were as good as we were bad in the first-half. It is all about a few of the lads getting back to basics for the next game. They will have to take a look at themselves and try and improve upon that.”
Jack Payne put the visitors 2-0 up at half-time, but Oakley’s close range strike and a penalty from Basker hailed Wimbledon level. The Dons came so close to winning it when Craig struck the crossbar, but the hosts had to settle for their fourth Football League Youth Alliance draw out of six this season.
Meanwhile, Will Bor (pictured) started his Staines Town loan in fine style on Saturday by helping Marcus Gayle’s side to a 3-2 win against league leaders Salisbury City in Blue Square South. Midfielder Will, who has featured for our development side this season, got vital first-team experience under his belt after progressing through our youth ranks.
Mark added: “I was asked by Simon Bassey to help out at last week’s development game against Wycombe and a few of my lads did OK, but Will came on and did not play as well as I would have liked. I am told though that he did very well on Saturday at Staines though and was clapped off by the home crowd when he came off with cramp after 70 minutes.”
A full video interview with Mark Robinson can be viewed on Dons Player tomorrow.