AFC Wimbledon Under-18s made it four wins out of four this season with a hard-fought victory against Sutton United on Saturday.
The Dons’ undefeated streak continued as two stunning goals courtesy of Harry Sidwell and Kai Jennings were enough to overcome the challenge faced by Sutton in the South London derby on Saturday morning.
Wimbledon lined up with Max Foulkes in goal, Mathias Tepe, Leo Young, Riley Horan and Oliver Downs making up the back four, Sidwell, Jennings and Reuben Amissah in midfield and a front three of Ed Leach, Paris Lock and Tom Wilson.
Our side got off to a quick start as a cutback from Leach on the right flank found Jennings in the box who saw his shot fly just over the crossbar.
Sutton responded soon after though, calling Foulkes into action and forcing him to tip a strike onto his own crossbar.
The visitors got the first goal of the day through a corner kick. A cross was fizzed in at the near post before taking a hefty deflection, causing the ball to fly past the stranded keeper who could do nothing but watch on.
A bombardment of further corners followed for Sutton, who clearly wanted to utilise their attacking aerial threat to double their lead.
However Wimbledon soon grew into the game, controlling the ball and enjoying a lot of possession. Lock was slid through on goal and seemingly chopped down in the box although the referee waved away all appeals.
Our equaliser came on the stroke of half-time. Wilson received the ball with his back to goal, before laying it off to Sidwell on the edge of the penalty area. Sidwell struck his effort perfectly with a first time finish that saw the ball bounce in off the bar.
The second-half provided minutes for Jake Lawrence, Hugo Few and Junior Nkeng, replacing Sidwell, Amissah and Lock respectively.
Wilson saw a strike clip off the Sutton post soon after the restart as the Dons came agonisingly close to taking the lead.
As expected though, Sutton responded in similar fashion, with Foulkes saving and holding a well struck volley soon before another header clattered off the Wimbledon crossbar.
In the closing stages of the match the Dons were awarded a free-kick in a favourable position, which Jennings stood over with authority. He struck with precision, seeing the ball bend over the wall and into the Sutton net against the best efforts of the keeper.
Leach was replaced by Connor Harris in a tactical switch, allowing the Dons to hold onto the 2-1 lead and see the game out for their third league win from three.