Development squad show battling qualities in South Wales
AFC Wimbledon’s development squad secured a hard-fought victory at Newport County today with Tom Beere striking a first-half winner.
minute.thAlan Reeves’ side maintained their impressive form in the EFL Central League, thanks to a goal from Beere in the 38
Sean Kelly continued his drive towards full fitness by getting 90 minutes under his belt after a substitute appearance for the first-team against Fleetwood on Saturday.
In a game of few chances, Beere’s 25-yard effort was enough to clinch victory after Joe McDonnell had made a fine save to deny Newport.
Newport put out a competitive side for the fixture with several first-team squad members, including Jennison Myrie-Williams.
Alan Reeves said: “The pitch was a bobbly quagmire, but it was the same for both teams. I told the boys beforehand that it was not going to be a good football spectacle, but they had to roll their sleeves up. We had to get the ball forward quickly, back it up, and keep it in their final third. We managed to do that.
“I said to our players that sometime in their future careers they may end up playing on pitches like that in the FA Cup. They had to dig in and I was pleased with the performance in a game of few chances. It was a good test for Sean as he was up against Jordan Green, who is a quick and direct winger, but he stood up to it well. Toby Sibbick also did well on the other flank against Myrie-Williams.”
AFC Wimbledon: Joe McDonnell, Toby Sibbick, Will Nightingale, Paul Kalambayi, Sean Kelly, Neset Bellikli, Dan Gallagher, Alfie Egan, Egli Kaja (Reece Williams-Bowers), Tom Beere, Jayden Antwi (Tino Carpene).