AFC Wimbledon’s young prospects kept themselves ticking over by striking seven goals in a friendly match against 10 Coaching.
With no league game for three weeks, manager Mark Robinson wanted a friendly match to shake off any rustiness, ahead of the resumption of the Merit League. A 7-0 win ensued with Ayoub Assal and Archie Proctor notching doubles. Elliot Bolton, Donte Lodge-Francis, and an own goal, accounted for the others.
Our academy has good links with 10 coaching as Toyosi Olusanya, Emmanuel Mensah and David Omperon joined Wimbledon from the Morden-based company, before helping The Dons into the last-16 of the FA Youth Cup back in 2016.
Highlights from the match can be viewed by clicking on the link below.
Following the match, Mark Robinson said: “The lads mostly played with good tempo and demonstrated good habits. There were also some exciting moments on a difficult surface. We had a 10-minute spell when we got a bit sloppy, but I was pleased how the lads got themselves back on track. I believe that is the strength of educating them with methods like player-led games, as I did not have to raise the standards again by getting into them. It's not the complete answer obviously, but if they are more self aware that they are dropping their standards, then I believe that's a real positive. The less reactive and more proactive they are, the better. With the Merit League not starting for a few weeks, we have further games coming up against Swindon Town and Southampton, which will be excellent tests for the players.
"I don’t often mention individual performances, but I think for our younger academy players it's important I single out Finn Macnab’s display. We are very big on wanting to produce two footed players and Finn put in a performance that was excellent in terms of making things happen with both feet. Not only was he taking corners off both sides with different feet, he was playing penetrating passes continuously off both feet, which made him so much more effective.
“What makes it more pleasing is that when he came in as a scholar he did not have the ability to do this, so it shows what hard work and dedication can achieve. I hope our younger players take note because Finn was at least 20 per cent more effective, he had the ability to execute more of the pictures he was seeing, whether he opened up on his right or left side."