In-form striker Ashlee Hincks struck both goals to help AFC Wimbledon Ladies to an impressive victory last night.
Our women’s first-team made it nine unbeaten with a 2-0 win at London Seaward, Kevin Foster’s side making up some ground on the top two in the table ahead ahead of Sunday’s crunch clash at league leaders Hashtag United.
“I thought we played some really good football,” said Hincks afterwards. “Our performance against Enfield wasn’t anywhere near our best, but we ground out the result. For long periods today we really controlled the game, but we got the ball down and played on a difficult pitch."
The Dons made a positive start with wide players Chloe Sampson and Gloria Siber creating several half chances in the opening 10 minutes. The visitors kept applying the pressure and reward came after 16 minutes as Siber was brought down inside the penalty area, allowing Ashlee to open the scoring from the penalty spot. It was a 20th goal of the season after only 20 games for Hincks.
Wimbledon were in determined mood to add to add to it, but chances for Hincks and Chloe Sampson came to nothing. Seaward improved as the first-half progressed and it was only fine defending from Hannah Billingham that kept Wimbledon ahead. The Dons had another penalty appeal in the dying seconds of the first-half, but the referee was unimpressed.
Taking a 1-0 lead into the second-half, Wimbledon had the perfect start after the interval when Hincks headed home a pinpoint cross by Hannah Billingham. The rest of the second-half was a scrappy affair, the Dons only really coming close to extending the advantage through Rosie Russell, who forced the keeper into a fine save. At the other end, Kelly Highman produced some excellent defensive work to break up a threatening Seaward counter-attack. However, the Dons held on comfortably and a win at Canvey Island-based Hashtag United will edge them closer to the Champions with games in hand.
AFC Wimbledon Ladies: Faye Baker, Rosie Russell, Kelly Highman, Rebecca Sargent (Angel Fowler), Hannah Billingham, Steph Mann (Molly Childerhouse), Emily Donovan, Megan Stow (Emily Oliver), Chloe Sampson (Rebecca Carter), Ashlee Hincks, Gloria Siber (Katie Stanley).
Pic credit: Glyn Roberts.