AFC Wimbledon Under-18s were denied a share of the spoils on Saturday after rattling the woodwork twice in the latter stages against Gillingham.
A 1-0 home defeat ended Wimbledon’s fine recent run, but it certainly wasn’t for the want of trying. From the outset, The Dons had opportunities and before the 90 minutes had elapsed both Troy Chiabi (pictured) and Jack Currie had struck the woodwork.
In a bright start from Wimbledon, Elliot Bolton twice came close with powerful efforts that were bound for the top corner, only to be denied by fantastic saves. Julian Ramirez also went through one-on-one with the Gills keeper, but he was also foiled. The referee was given no choice but to give a red card in the 17th minute to a Gillingham forward after he reacted badly to a Kwaku Frimpong challenge.
The second-half started in similar fashion to how the first-half ended with Gillingham’s 10 men offering stubborn resistance by packing defence. The first chance of the second-half fell to in-form Chiabi, but his header bounced off a post in the 74th minute. The visitors then landed with a sucker-punch, completely against the run of play, with a goal 10 minutes from time after Wimbledon had failed to deal with a corner. There was so nearly an instant response from Wimbledon when Jack Currie’s thunderous half volley crashed off the angle of post and bar and away to safety. In the latter stages, Wimbledon threw everything at Gillingham in an effort to conjure up the equaliser, but the visitors held firm.
AFC Wimbledon Under-18s are next in match action on Saturday in the EFL Youth Alliance South East at Peterborough United (11.00 am kick-off).