It was third time lucky for AFC Wimbledon Women as our side finally overcame Ashford Town this season, keeping the title push well on track.
The main headline was Skye Bacon scoring her first goal for the Club on debut, adding to other strikes from Hannah Mackenzie, Beron Grant and Sandra Soares Martins. It meant that Kevin Foster’s side stay well on track for promotion, with only three games to go.
Wimbledon made several changes to the starting line-up which saw us exit the Capital Cup on Sunday. Lauren Allen was back in goal, and Ashlee Hincks, Emily Donovan, Ellie Dorey, Fran Ali and Mackenzie replaced Bacon, Molly Childerhouse, Steph Mann, Ashleigh Goddard and Billie Brooks.
The first chance of the game fell to the Dons, as Grant was last on a Hannah Billingham cross, but the ball sailed far over the bar.
The Dons continued to push, and 15 minutes in it looked like it had paid off - but the ball was cleared off the line, and the rebound was pushed out for a corner. Mackenzie was well placed from the resulting set piece and headed the loose ball in as we took the lead.
There was concern shortly after the open, as Wimbledon were forced into making their first substitution, with Ashlee Hincks coming off for Bacon.
Ashford fought hard to get back into the game, and got their equaliser when a free-kick caused some confusion in the box and found the back of the net.
The game swung our way again however as Soares Martin sent Grant on her way, who finished with a calm chip over the onrushing keeper.
Another two minutes later, it was Bacon’s turn to score her debut goal for the Dons, sending a perfectly placed ball into the bottom right corner.
Early in the second-half Ashford were awarded a highly contested free-kick on the edge of the box, which found its way round the Wimbledon wall and into the goal.
The Dons responded well, and a few minutes later, Soares Martins nicked the ball from an Ashford defender to score with a driven finish past the keeper. We almost made it five a short moment later when Donovan headed a Bacon cross just over the bar.
Dorey then rattled the right upright as another chance came and went before Bacon’s effort skimmed the post before going out of play.
Ashford set up a grandstand finish as they got another goal back with 15 minutes left on the clock – albeit against the backdrop of our offside calls falling on deaf ears.
To much relief, the referee finally blew her whistle and Wimbledon claimed all three points on the night.
Next up is another away trip, this time staying put in the capital as we travel to London Seaward on Sunday 14 April.
PICS: Emily Topping
