Dan Agyei strikes a hat-trick for young Dons
Manager Mark Robinson saluted an excellent team performance after the Under-18s swept aside Peterborough United yesterday.
Dan Agyei (pictured) led the charge by scoring a hat-trick with Egli Kaja and Callum Wilson also on target in a 5-1 win at home to Posh.
Mark Robinson said: “It was a very pleasing performance. We played with excellent intensity, a real physicality, and our mixture of football was pretty much spot-on for most of the game. My back four always looked in control defensively and the full-backs got forward at the right times. The midfield kept good shape, but they also combined wonderfully and the front two ran their back four all over the place.
“I rate Peterborough as one of the best sides in our league and a very productive academy. With six of our Under-18s helping the development side to a 1-1 draw against an experienced Portsmouth side on Monday, it’s been a very positive week.”
The lively front pair of Kaja and Agyei caused problems throughout and both came close to making a breakthrough in the opening exchanges. However, there was not long to wait for Wimbledon to take the lead and they did it in great style in the ninth minute. Dan Ano delivered a lovely corner that Kaja met with an excellent header at the near post to make it 1-0.
minute when he latched onto a through ball from Wilson, before rounding the goalkeeper and slotting home. Billy Frost came close to a third and Agyei headed just over as Peterborough struggled to cope with the rampant Dons.th There was no let-up from the young Dons and they so nearly doubled their advantage when a sublime pass from Jason Stripp put Agyei through, but he was just denied by the Peterborough goalkeeper. However, there was no stopping Agyei in the 15
At the other end, Dons goalkeeper Will Mannion had to stay alert to collect a couple of dangerous crosses. However, it got even better 10 minutes before half-time, thanks to excellent approach play from Tayshan Hayden-Smith. Showing sublime skill to weave in and out of challenges down the right, Hayden-Smith then delivered a clever pull-back for Agyei, who cut inside and finished clinically.
goal of the season.th Though Peterborough reduced the arrears just before half-time, Wimbledon started the second-half with the same fluidity that had been so impressive in the first half. Hayden-Smith claimed his second assist of the day when he delivered an inch-perfect pass for Agyei, who finished expertly for his 30
Under-16 player Reece Williams-Bowers was introduced for the impressive Hayden-Smith, but the forward momentum continued from Wimbledon with the substitute looking comfortable at this level. Mannion made an outstanding save in the last 10 minutes to curtail any Peterborough hopes of a late fightback and Wimbledon put the icing on the cake five minutes from time. Wilson was dragged down in the box after losing his marker and he stepped up himself to make no mistake from 12 yards.
There was still time for trialist Jordan Aghatise to enter the fray for Reece Batchelor, who had produced one of his best performances of the season. It had been an encouraging day all round for the young Dons as they maintained their unbeaten record in the Football League Youth Alliance in 2015.
Centre-back Taylor Roles was Man of the Match for Wimbledon.