Our women bowed out of the FA WNL League Cup, despite a valiant display against a very strong Watford side.
In the end, it would take extra-time and a last minute wonder shot to decide the winner.
Just like the Dons, Watford - top of the table in the league above - came into this game with plenty of confidence, having scored 13 goals in their last 3 games.
The Wimbledon defensive unit of Rosie Russell, Billie Brooks, Kelly Highman, Hannah Billingham and goalkeeper Faye Baker, rose to the occasion and kept Watford at bay, preventing them from creating any clear-cut opportunities.
The best chance of the first-half fell to Dons’ captain Hannah Billingham, who hit the inside of the post after heading a perfectly placed Billie Brooks free kick.
Watford made a double substitution at half-time, and came out with renewed energy. Wimbledon continued to deny the opposition any chances. The visitors rattled the post with a long-range effort, but it wasn’t enough to break the deadlock. Amy Taylor came on for Becki Bath, who had taken a knock, and at 80 minutes, returning from injury, Emma Plewa made her first competitive appearance for the club, replacing Ellie Dorey. A few minutes later, the Dons made their final substitution for the day, with Megan Stow coming on for Steph Mann.
As the referee blew the full-time whistle, the teams prepared themselves for extra-time. Watford came close to stealing the show just a minute after restarting, but there was an impessive goal line clearance by Billingham. At the other end, Gloria Siber forced the Watford keeper into making a fine save.
In the last minutes of extra minutes, Emma Plewa was sent off. The 10 remaining Wimbledon players battled to reach a penalty shoot-out, but it wasn’t to be. In the dying seconds of the game, Watford’s Grace Garrad won the ball 30 yards out, and fired an unstoppable shot into the top far corner of the goal.
Despite the defeat, it was a performance to be proud of for the Dons, as they pushed the best side a division above all the way.
After the game goalkeeper Faye Baker said: “I’m really proud of everybody – the subs, the starting XI, the bench, everybody associated with Wimbledon. We’ve just competed for more than 90 minutes and extra time against the team top of the division above.”
Pic credit: Tom Smeeth