Ladies head into Sunday's vital match in good spirits
AFC Wimbledon Ladies head into Sunday’s potential title clincher in great form after booking a Surrey County Cup final spot in fine style.
The Dons could win the London & South East Regional Women’s Premier League with a victory against Carshalton on Sunday (2.00 pm kick-off at Sutton United) and they go into it on the back of a superb 7-1 win against the same opponents, which clinched a final berth against Crystal Palace.
Though manager Chris Lyons is taking nothing for granted heading into Sunday, there was no doubting the quality of Sunday’s display, which clinched a final spot for the second successive season.
Caz Bisson put the Dons 1-0 up after only two minutes and the advantage was doubled just before the half hour. Bisson combined with Jordanne Hoesli-Atkins (pictured) to set-up Kelly Jade-Whelan and Wimbledon’s top scorer made no mistake. It was 3-0 shortly afterwards when Bisson produced a lovely lob that left the Carshalton goalkeeper with no chance.
minute when a corner from Zoe Clifford was headed home by Jade-Whelan. With an hour gone, Lyons decided to freshen up the forward line with Emma Keady and Laura Low entering the fray and the pair immediately made an impact. Low split the Carshalton defence with a fine run, before setting up Keady, who rounded the goalkeeper and finished clinically for number five. It didn’t take long for Keady to grab a quick-fire double, this time the Dons striker scoring with a great long distance strike.thMore Dons pressure paid off in the 56
goal of the season rounding off the scoring in style.thA welcome sight for the club came 15 minutes from time with midfielder Rebecca Sargent making her playing comeback as a substitute after injury. There was still time for Keady to grab a hat-trick with her 15
Victory meant a cup final date against Crystal Palace on Thursday 21 April at Leatherhead FC.
Manager Chris Lyons said: “I thought our finishing was good, and all the goals were well taken. I was particularly pleased with Emma Keady’s impact, and the way she linked-up with Laura Low after they came on. In fact, I was happy with both our strike partnerships as they gave the Carshalton defence different sets of problems during the game.
“We’re very pleased to have got through to our second cup final in only two seasons, and we’ll be looking forward to showing Palace we’re even stronger than when we knocked them out of this competition last season.”
“I’d also like to thank everyone who came down to watch us on Sunday. The atmosphere was fantastic again, and we’re starting to get a good number of supporters at our games. I hope we can finally win this league in front of another good crowd on Sunday.”
Player of the match (voted for by the opposition) was Jordanne Hoesli-Atkins.
Hoesli-Atkins, Suchley (Sargent 75), Clifford, Whelan (Keady 63), Bisson (Low 63). Sub not used: Tylee. AFC Wimbledon: Salgado, Colliver (McLaren 75), Houghton-North, Clements, Clarke, Trimnell,
Spectators are welcome to cheer on the Dons this Sunday as the ladies aim to clinch league title glory. The game is Sutton United’s Gander Green Lane (2.00 pm kick-off).