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After a horrendous three hour journey, a quick 15 minute warm up and late kick off to this FA Youth cup game away at Tilbury it was the Young Dons who progressed through to the First Round Proper where they will play the winners of Sutton United or Margate at home. Wimbledon showed a mature and professional attitude and thoroughly deserved their victory giving their opponents limited opportunities all night.
The Dons started the game at a good tempo, dominating early proceedings and keeping Tilbury pinned back in their own half. Harry Knock and Jordaan Brown were knocking in some good dead ball deliveries especially corners that caused the home defence some early concerns.
From one Knock corner Callum Wellburn rose to head just over the bar whilst from the other side a Jordaan Brown corner was nearly turned in by Joe Jackson. In the 24th minute the Dons took the lead when Jackson held off a defender on the half way line before setting back to Jamie Warren, his pass over the defence was inch perfect for Matt Harmsworth to get in behind and superbly lob the keeper from 15 yards and at a tight angle. Tilbury came roaring back at Wimbledon and missed a decent chance when the offside flag was not raised and the Tilbury forward got in behind but missed the target. Jack Turner was on his toes on a couple of occasions as well sweeping up behind his defence with great authority.
Having weathered the Tilbury storm it was the Dons who added the second just before half time. A clearance out of defence from Dean McQueen released Joe Jackson, the recovering defender looked to have thwarted the danger but Jackson was strong enough to hold off his challenge before turning and firing into the bottom corner.
The second half again possession wise belonged to Wimbledon and it was a credit to the whole team that Tilbury failed to have a shot on target in this period. Central defenders Rhys Turner and Dean McQueen were outstanding all night whilst Knock and Dunne controlled the centre of the park, winning their tackles and laying the ball off. Up front Jackson and Harmsworth looked very strong, never giving the Tilbury defenders any peace and causing them problems with their power and quality.
Callum Dunne broke through the home defence on a couple of occasions but just failed to get the right touch in the penalty area whilst a Knock effort from the edge of the area went just wide. Tilbury’s best opportunity came when a forward blasted the ball high and wide 15 yards from goal. With time running out Juevan Spencer replaced the tiring Joe Jackson and a few minutes later Jordaan Brown was also replaced by Luke Gambin. Unable to breach the excellent Wimbledon defence the Tilbury team ran out of ideas and with a couple of minutes remaining James Cottee replaced Matt Harmsworth before the referee blew the final whistle.
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