Dons Ladies march towards another successful season
AFC Wimbledon Ladies could win the title with a win on Sunday (2.00 pm kick-off at Sutton), but the club’s development side are also showing that there is a bright future ahead.
The Ladies development team triumphed 6-1 against QPR reserves to earn a place in the Capital Women’s Intermediate Final with a hat-trick from Player of the Match Georgia Heasman (pictured) leading the charge.
It was a whirlwind start from the Dons with Jess Drage opening the scoring with a neat lob after just two minutes. Bernice Tully doubled the advantage with a goal of similar quality, this time the QPR goalkeeper caught out with a 30-yard lob.
Heasman netted her first just before the break with a goal that was a reward for perseverance. A free-kick from Sami Bock picked out Heasman at the back post and though her initial shot was saved, there was no stopping her from the rebound.
A fourth goal arrived in the second-half when a great solo run and pass from Hayley Clarke set-up Ara Okekunle and she unselfishly assisted for Heasman to notch her second.
Heasman completed a hat-trick to make it five after QPR failed to clear a corner and Okekunle rounded off the scoring in style with a clinical finish after a fine team move.
Speaking after leading Wimbledon into the final on 17 April, captain Jodie Weller said: “Having only played one game since the turn of the year, we knew this game was going to be a challenge and we went into it knowing we had to give a strong team performance. From the off we pressurised QPR and played with a high intensity. The score line at the end definitely showed our level of performance and we are very excited for the final.”
Starting 11: Emma Marlow, Georgia Ridgeway, Sami Bock, Jodie Weller, Lotti Klatt, Megan Smith, Jess Drage, Sarah Killik-Bird, Bernice Tully, Allana Francis-Ashmeil, Georgia Heasman. Subs: Hayley Clarke, Ara Okekunle, Emily Barnard.
AFC Wimbledon Ladies’ first-team can win the London & South East Regional Women’s League with a victory against Carshalton Athletic on Sunday. The match is at Sutton United’s Gander Green Lane ground (2.00 pm kick-off) and spectators are welcome to cheer on the Dons.