AFC Wimbledon Ladies moved into third place in FA Women’s League National League Division One South East with an impressive victory at Enfield on Sunday.
Goals from Hannah Baptiste (centre in above pic), Katie Stanley (left), and Jenny Nagle secured a 3-0 victory that sets the Dons up well for the FA Women’s Cup clash at home to Portsmouth on Sunday.
No hat-trick this week for Caroline Bisson, but Wimbledon’s captain on the day was the first to worry the Enfield keeper with a great lob from just outside the area. The players settled well and were rewarded on 22 minutes when reserve team player Hannah Baptiste scored her first goal for the seniors. It came through a lovely volley after the ball was half cleared out following a Dons corner. Georgia Heasman, Bisson and Jenny Nagle were combining well to cause the hosts plenty of problems.
The second-half started with Katie Stanley on for Bisson, with the armband going to Billingham. Both teams continued with high energy and enthusiasm. On 52 minutes, Chanell Yardley saved a fierce shot, probably the only time she was really tested in the game. This wasn’t due to any lack of effort by Enfield, but the Dons defence of Hannah Billingham, Kelly Highman, Jordanne Hoesli-Atkins and Sian Wylie kept them at bay. In midfield, Rosie Russell put in another tremendous shift in her first season in the senior team.
Super-sub Stanley scored the second on 55 minutes as she made a break through the defence, squared up to the advancing keeper, and poked the ball low into the net. The Ladies continued to press forward and were rewarded four minutes later when Nagle, still in the six-yard box after a Dons attack, seized upon a defensive error and fired home well. With over quarter of an hour to go, Enfield had their best chance when the ball hit the bar, bouncing down the right side of the line for Wimbledon with the final clearance by Billingham.
Even at 3-0 up, the Dons kept pressing forward, with more shots by Nagle and storming runs by Stanley. Three was comfortably enough on the day though and it meant that Wimbledon moved ahead of Enfield into third place, one point behind second spot.
Starting line-up: 1 Chanell Yardley, 5 Rosie Russell, 7 Jenny Nagle, 9 Caroline Bisson, 12 Sarah Wentworth, 15 Georgia Heasman, 16 Jordanne Hoesli-Atkins, 17 Sian Wylie, 18 Kelly Highman, 19 Hannah Baptiste, 20 Hannah Billingham. Subs: 3 Linsey Clarke, 14 Katie Stanley, 23 Abbie Morris.
Spectators are welcome to come along and support the Ladies in their biggest challenge of the season so far this Sunday. The match will be at Carshalton Athletic, Colston Ave SM5 2PW. Kick off 2.00 pm (TBC). Follow the Dons Ladies on Twitter @afcw_ladies or on Instagram @afcwladies and Facebook @AFCWimbledonLadies.