Wimbledon’s young talents showed plenty of promising signs for the future by almost earning a draw against a far more experienced Maidstone side earlier this week.
Troy Chiabi (pictured) headed home in a 2-1 defeat for a Dons development side consisting entirely of teenagers against a senior Maidstone team currently mid-table in National South. With Lead Youth Phase Cooach James Oliver-Pearce guiding the young Dons, our oldest player on the day was aged just 18. Highlights from the match can be viewed by clicking on the link below.
In a match of three 30-minute periods, Wimbledon took the lead in the second of those when Dylan Adjei-Hersey whipped in a free-kick and Troy Chiabi headed home into the bottom corner. The hosts equalised 10 minutes later through Scott Rendell, who finished off well after a cross into the box by former Dons loanee Gavin Hoyte.
Wimbledon twice came close to going back in front, first when Chiabi curled just wide, and then Paris Lock’s shot struck the crossbar and bounced away to safety. Though Dons keeper Matthew Cox made fine saves on the day, he was beaten in the final third of this match when Zihni Temelci fired home with a shot from inside the area.
AFC Wimbledon: Matthew Cox, Isaac Ogundere, Luke Jenkins, Ethan Sutcliffe, Josh Hallard, Kwaku Frimpong, Abdi Ali, Elliot Bolton, Dylan Adjei-Hersey, Troy Chiabi and Julian Sarmiento-Ramirez. Subs: Ben Mason, Ibrahim Bangura, Hugo Few, Aron Sasu, Paris Lock.