This is an archive website preserved by the Dons Trust. It has been wrapped for modern browsers and is free of trackers and legacy scripts. The original content is unchanged as much as possible. Some links and features may no longer work.
Saturday 11 October 2003 Suburban League, Southern Division
AFC Wimbledon
5
-
1
Croydon Athletic Reserves
Match report
A Wade Falana hat-trick helped the reserves to an emphatic win against Croydon Athletic.
Apart from a 15 minute spell mid-way through the first half, the Dons always had control and could have won by a bigger margin. The defence were rarely threatened with Merry dominating his area and chances for the away team were limited. Wimbledon took the lead on 15 minutes when Taylor intercepted in midfield. His early ball found Luffman down the right and his square pass was met by Falana. Although the keeper partly blocked the shot the ball ended up in the net. Falana's second came after 37 minutes and resulted from a long ball from Ward. Falana beat the offside trap and coolly slipped the ball past the advancing keeper. The half ended with Luffman being thwarted by the keeper twice in two minutes, and Falana shooting just past the post.
Within five minutes of the restart, Falana clipped the top of the bar with a delicate chip and soon after a move involving Falana and Taylor resulted in Luffman heading home for number three. The goal of the game came after 70 minutes when Taylor went down the right and his low cross was met by Falana's diving header. Luffman scored the fifth after he beat two defenders and shot into the far corner but the last goal of the game gave the visitors a consolation when the centre forward headed home.
