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Sunday 12 October 2008 Surrey Youth League U15 Premier
AFC Wimbledon come from behind to take a point at Lion Park
The trip to Lion Park to take on Bisley FC was to be our toughest challenge to date. Bisley, like ourselves are unbeaten this season but unlike us they have played together as a team for a number of years. They are a well organised side who play a tight passing game. The new AFC Wimbledon boys would have to be at their best if they were to take anything from this game.
Bisley started the game at a fierce pace pushing forward from the very start. AFC Wimbledon, in their 4-5-1 formation looked a little shell shocked and needed a couple of minutes to find their feet. Dean managed to get a shot away on 4 minutes but there was no one in the box to receive the ball and the keeper collected. Bisley seemed to step up a gear and everyone breathed a sigh of relief when a scramble for the ball in the Dons box was finally cleared, but just seconds later the unmarked Bisley number 13 slotted the ball past the Dons keeper to put the home side ahead with just 8 minutes played.
The 1-0 seemed to have an impact on AFC Wimbledon and we started to see a bit more possession in midfield, although we were still finding it difficult to get the ball forward for any real shooting chances. Bisley were still looking dangerous on the break and on 25 minutes it looked as though Wimbledon would concede again as a perfect cross came into the box from the right wing. The awaiting striker missed his header by millimetres allowing Jake to collect. It was now the Don’s chance to push forward and with 6 minutes to play Danny hit a curling shot at the top right hand corner, but an alert Bisley keeper gathered the ball with ease. 2 minutes later a similar shot from Danny found the top netting. AFC Wimbledon were beginning to have some good spells of possession but with Bisley defending so deep and so well it was hard to see where we would get a goal from. The referee played 2 minutes of stoppage time before blowing the whistle for half time.
AFC Wimbledon started the brighter of the two sides in the second half and kept possession well. We had to wait for 8 minutes before either side had a shot on goal. Wimbledon played the ball forward well and Ross got off a beautiful shot that was just wide of the post. 2 minutes later it was Bisley on a goal ward run and the finest of saves from Jake was the only thing stopping Bisley from taking a 2-0 lead. Jake’s diving fingertip save sent the ball round the post for a Bisley corner. The corner was played short but the dangerous looking cross into the box could not find a Bisley head and went out of play for a goal kick.
With 13 minutes of the second half played Bisley earned a free kick through a high boot but wasted the shot by hitting high over the bar. The resulting goal kick found its way to Dean who played the perfect cross into the box. A powerful header from George was sent just wide. 5 minutes later Ryan managed to find a little space for a shot on goal but the pressure from the Bisley defence didn’t allow him to hit with enough power to trouble the keeper. The pressure from the Dons was building with more possession and better quality passing with every minute played. 24 minutes into the second half a pinpoint pass from Keenan found Danny who was able to cruise past two defenders and slot the ball into the far right hand side of the goal to put the score all even at 1-1.
The Bisley team started to show a little frustration as AFC Wimbledon went in search of the winning goal. And it was on 34 minutes that, what looked like the winning goal came. After a goalmouth scramble Danny picked up a deflected shot and calmly played the ball in to put the Dons ahead for the first time.
With just 5 minutes to play and AFC Wimbledon looking firmly in control a slight lapse allowed Bisley the space to get into the Wimbledon box. Another great save from Jake at the expense of a corner kept us ahead. A well taken corner resulted in a Bisley shot that looked to have beaten the keeper. An unfortunate reflex action saw Adam handle the ball in the box to stop the shot crossing the line. The referee had little choice but to award a penalty to Bisley and show a red card to Adam. The Bisley number 17 took the penalty with confidence to even the score at 2-2.
AFC Wimbledon again pushed forward looking for a winner but Bisley were intent on playing a defensive last 5 minutes to hang on to a draw.
All in all a good result for the new look AFC Wimbledon under 15’s against a well organised and established Bisley FC
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