Our Under-18s secured an impressive victory on Saturday with a double from Archie Stevens leading the victory charge.
Wimbledon recovered from going a goal down to earn a 4-1 home win versus Stevenage, bouncing back to form in EFL Youth Alliance Merit League One.
It didn’t start well for our young Dons - recently crowned as South East Division title winners - with possession conceded and Stevenage taking full advantage to open the scoring.
Despite the setback of going behind the Dons grew into the game and began to dictate proceedings, before capitalising on an error from the Stevenage keeper. His short goal-kick was pounced upon and Quaine Bartley fired home a powerful first-time strike into the bottom corner to tie up proceedings.
The game then flipped on its head when Archie Stevens made a darting run and finished off a low cross at the back post for a 2-1 half-time lead. Number three followed in the second-half after Marcel Campbell launched a searching ball towards the penalty area from his own half. Leon Chiwome was lying in wait and reacted quickest, leaving the Stevenage defence for dead, as he met the ball over the top and produced a cool finish for Wimbledon’s third.
A second goal for Stevens made it four and sealed a comfortable win for the Dons. A lovely through ball found Aron Sasu, who cut into the opposition box and picked out Stevens at the back post. He did well to control the ball, before firing home with what was almost a carbon copy of his first, as the dominant Dons returned to winning ways.
Despite the solid Wimbledon performance, Academy Manager Michael Hamilton highlighted the areas his side could improve upon.
“We were dominant and we took our chances, but our organisation and communication needed to be better,” said Michael. “Behind the ball and defensively, there’s still some things that the boys need to be aware of. Today we didn’t get punished, but last week we did and we need to take stuff from the training ground into the game. If there is anything we, as coaches and development staff, don’t give them, they need to ask questions.
“We’re quite big on the boys recognising situations and identifying formations and how the opposition want to play. We then look to manage it effectively.
“Defensively, nothing new has shown up. Today we only conceded one, last week we conceded two, so next week we’ll try and concede none. Ultimately, that’s going to be based on the boys learning the lessons and rectifying them for our next game on Saturday."
Our Under-18s will be aiming to follow up Saturday’s win with another three points at Portsmouth this weekend.