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Wimbledon were lucky to come away from the first leg of the Champions Cup with a draw and clean sheet. With multiple injuries in the squad and only 13 players fit for this game it was always going to be a tough ask. Things got worse before they got better as Charlie Clark-Gleave pulled out of the game during the warm up due to an injury suffered at Ash on Saturday leaving the Dons with just one substitute.
The first half was dominated by Basingstoke and only they will know how they failed to score. Jack Turner in goal pulled off two or three decent saves and one exceptional reaction save from point blank range. Basingstoke breached the Wimbledon’s defence at will but too often failed to hit the target. The Dons mustered just one shot on target throughout the half. Their best chance though fell to young Callum Wellburn whose header from a Harry Knock free kick just failed to hit the target.
The second half started much the same as the first with Basingstoke the better side with Wimbledon hanging on. After 15 minutes of the second half Wimbledon changed their shape to three at the back replacing midfielder James Stenning with Quincey Rowe to play alongside Wellburn and Aaron Snelling. A midfield quartet with Karl Douglin playing up top with the front two was to prove more effective. In fairness things did improve, Ryan Jackson and Jordaan Brown started getting down the flanks and producing crosses. The forwards began to get into the game and Wimbledon started to open up the home defence but they always looked vulnerable at the back. Elton Gjoni had a half chance, his header going wide of the far post whilst strike partner Matt Harmsworth saw his far post effort well saved by the home keeper. Further chances fell to Danny Penfold whose volley from eight yards was miss-hit and went wide and then his effort from the edge of the box was blocked. Brown then had a fine run but this came to nothing. Basingstoke also created chances of their own in this period as the centre forward broke clear down the right before cutting inside and shooting over the bar when it looked easier to score.
Wimbledon will settle for the draw considering how the game went and now look forward to getting some players back for the return leg in two weeks time.
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