AFC Wimbledon were comfortably beaten 3-0 by Ipswich Town on Saturday afternoon as the League One side showcased their ruthlessness in front of goal.
A double from the Tractor Boys’ captain Sam Morsy and a tap in from Tyreece John-Jules was the difference between the two sides as the Dons struggled to get into their stride.
The gap between the divisions was there for all to see in the end, with Wimbledon chances being at a premium on a baking hot day at the Cherry Red Records Stadium.
However this defeat is bound to serve as a good learning experience for our squad as the season approaches, with almost every member of the team getting yet more minutes into their legs ahead of further friendlies against Reading and Oxford United.
Johnnie Jackson once again rotated his squad for this fixture, with the likes of Nik Tzanev, Ayoub Assal and Chris Gunter coming into the starting eleven.
The visitors were quickly into their stride, with Tzanev being called into action early on to deny Conor Chaplin at his near post.
Ipswich weren’t to be denied a second time round however as they took the lead. Morsy collected a pass on the edge of the area before volleying home from just outside the box.
Assal carried the main threat for Wimbledon in the first-half with his direct running causing problems for the opposing defence, however there was still a lack of clear chances as the clock moved past the half-hour mark.
In the end it was a largely comfortable first 45 minutes for the Tractor Boys, with the Dons needing to step things up in an attacking sense after the break.
However things got worse for Jackson’s side as Ipswich doubled their lead. The influential Chaplin was at the heart of the action again as he tip-toed his way through before the ball found it’s way to John-Jules, who directed the ball home.
It was then 3-0 some 10 minutes later as Morsy spotted Tzanev off his line and executed a spectacular lobbed finish from 40 yards.
Tzanev was then called into action not long after as he did well to prevent Freddie Ladapo from making it 4-0 after the substitute beat the offside trap.
The one way traffic largely continued into the final 10 minutes, with the visitors emerging as deserved winners on the day.
Wimbledon will be hoping for a better outcome this coming Tuesday as we play host to Reading at Plough Lane.
AFC Wimbledon: Nik Tzanev, Chris Gunter (Ben Mason), Will Nightingale (Isaac Ogundere), George Marsh (Trialist), Trialist (Zach Robinson), Ayoub Assal (Trialist), Ethan Chislett (Kwaku Frimpong), Alex Pearce (Ethan Sutcliffe), Luke McCormick (Alfie Bendle), Jack Currie (Dylan Adjei-Hersey), Paul Kalambayi (Luke Jenkins)
PICS: Ian Stephen