Two great wins in three days for Under-18s
AFC Wimbledon Under-18s capped a brilliant 48 hours by securing an impressive victory at home to Dagenham & Redbridge this morning.
Following Thursday afternoon’s Youth Alliance Cup win at Southend, there was no let-up from Mark Robinson’s side with goals from Dan Ano and Dan Agyei earning a 2-0 league victory.
minute. Neset Bellikli (pictured) set the goal up in style with a superb scooped pass to release Ano, who got there before the Daggers goalkeeper and finished clinically.th The young Dons made a bright start and they could have been in front when Egli Kaja put Ano through, but he shot straight at the Daggers goalkeeper from 10 yards. However, there was no stopping Ano, who was making his first start for the Under-18s and he made it 1-0 in the 35
Jason Stripp almost extended Wimbledon’s lead before the break, but the hosts needed goalkeeper Billy Bishop to pull off a good save to keep their lead intact.
Ollie Haines almost scored a fine individual goal at the start of the second-half as he broke clean through with a brilliant run, but the Daggers goalkeeper was not fooled by his chip. With 25 minutes left Mark Robinson made a triple change with Agyei, Ian Smith and Alfie Egan replacing Ano, Bellikli and Reece Batchelor. It did not take long for Agyei to make an impact and he made it three goals in three games when he powered through the Daggers defence and finished brilliantly from 12 yards.
Though Bishop needed to be alert to preserve the two-goal advantage, Wimbledon finished strongly and Dan Gallagher produced a great strike that almost found the top corner.
Mark Robinson said: “It was a very tight game today. Though we never reached the heights of Thursday’s game in terms of the football we played, our players showed excellent focus throughout and we kept a good shape. After playing on Thursday it was good to give some of our younger boys starts and the acquitted themselves well. Though we lacked spring in our step after playing two games in 38 hours, our work-rate was excellent. I am hoping the boys will learn from today. As a team even if you’re not at your best there will still be a great chance of a positive outcome if you get the givens right.”
Callum Wilson received the man of the match award for Wimbledon.
The above photograph was taken by Rob Cornell.