Ladies head into cup tie in confident mood
AFC Wimbledon Ladies head into an SSE FA Cup third round qualifier against Women’s Premier side Gillingham in good spirits after battling back for a draw at Camden.
A late goal from Kelly Jade-Whelan earned a 3-3 draw last time out and Chris Lyons’ side are still unbeaten heading into Sunday’s cup tie against higher level opponents (2.00 pm kick-off at Chatham FC).
A 3-3 draw meant the first dropped points for Chris Lyons’ side, but they had to come from behind twice to earn a share of the spoils and hold onto top spot in the London and South East Regional Women’s League.
Despite Wimbledon having the better of it early on, Camden snatched the advantage on the half hour when defender Linsey Clarke was adjudged to have fouled in the box and the subsequent penalty was converted.
However, a good response followed from the visitors and Wimbledon drew level 10 minutes later when full-back Jordanne Hoesli-Atkins got forward effectively to finish off a fine team move.
minute when defender Clarke made up for her earlier error with a clinical finish.thWimbledon started the second-half in determined mood to take a grip on the game and Whelan had a shot from distance off target after a good spell of football. Sustained pressure was rewarded in the 65
It was far from over at 2-1 to Wimbledon though and Camden battled back with a response that threatened to end the away side’s unbeaten run. Two goals for the hosts followed and Wimbledon were facing defeat at 3-2 down with three minutes to play. Then came Whelan’s crucial intervention as the summer signing was in the right place to steer home after the Dons had forced successive corners.
Rebecca Sargent (pictured above) earned player of the match from the opposition.
Manager Chris Lyons said: “Camden will no doubt take points off other teams in the LSER, and we can take spirit from earning a draw from this game. Though we were not at our free-flowing best, we still picked up a valuable point and continue to be the side at the summit of the league.
“With an SSE FA Cup third round qualifier scheduled for this coming Sunday, we now face a mouth-watering tie against Women’s Premier side Gillingham. It’s testament to everyone involved in the rebuilding job at our club that we can now look forward to a game such as this. We can enter this game with complete confidence, knowing all eyes will be on higher league side Gillingham.”
AFC Wimbledon: Tylee, Colliver (Trimnell 56), Houghton-North, Clarke, Hoesli-Atkins, Sargent, Suchley, Bavington (Smith 84), Whelan, Wylie (Keady 70), McLaren (Clifford 49).