AFC Wimbledon started the pre-season schedule with a victory at Wexford today, thanks to a 70th minute winner from Tommy Wood.
Wally Downes fielded a different team for each half in the 1-0 win at Ferrycarrig Park with new signings Nesta Guinness-Walker, Nathan Trott, and Adam Roscrow all getting minutes.
League One of Ireland side Wexford threatened early on when Sean Roche found space after he latched onto a long ball, but Will Nightingale put in a fine last-ditch challenge. At the other end, Wimbledon fashioned a first meaningful chance when trialist Cohen Bramall found Joe Pigott, but his shot was saved by Jason McGuire. Kwesi Appiah then volleyed over as Wimbledon started to exert pressure, before Rod McDonald had his header saved by McGuire. Midway though the first-half Wexford had a good chance through Roche yet again, but he failed to test Nik Tzanev in the Wimbledon goal. However, The Dons were having the better of it and Appiah showed good vision to pick out Pigott, but he didn’t get enough on his shot. The half ended at 0-0 and both sides made plenty of changes, Wimbledon fielding a completely different 11 for the second-half.
Wexford had an opportunity to open the scoring after the hour when Eric Molley found space on the edge of the box, but his shot was just wide. However, Wimbledon responded by making the breakthrough 20 minutes from time when Wood headed home emphatically from close-range. Wood was almost celebrating a quick-fire double, but his effort was saved by Wexford's second-half keeper Colum Feeney. Finlay Macnab entered the fray for the last 11 minutes with Wimbledon utilising 23 players on the day. Adam Roscrow flashed a shot across the face of goal, but one was enough to earn victory in the first pre-season fixture for Wimbledon this summer.
AFC Wimbledon squad: Nik Tzanev, Cohen Bramall, Rod McDonald, Will Nightingale, Scott Wagstaff, Anthony Hartigan, Kwesi Appiah, Jack Rudoni, Dylan Connolly, Reuben Collins, Joe Pigott, Nathan Trott, Terell Thomas, Adam Roscrow, Mitch Pinnock, Kyron Stabana, Nesta-Guinness-Walker, Shane McLoughlin, Tommy Wood, Paul Kalambayi, Finlay Macnab, Archie Proctor, Anthony Wordsworth.