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 20 September 2003 Suburban League, Southern Division
AFC Wimbledon
1
-
0
Wealdstone Reserves
Match report
The reserves secured a hard fought victory against a Wealdstone side who had started the day in third place in the League.
The Dons welcomed back Tony Readings, after his return from New Zealand, into the heart of the defence and gave debuts to Tommy McFadden in midfield and Kerry Watts, who started on the bench.
The game started at a lively pace with Wealdstone having the early territorial advantage as the Dons were forced back on the defensive. A couple of dangerous corners were just too long for the attackers and Martin was forced into a routine save on ten minutes. Despite Wealdstone playing some good possession football, it was the Dons, with their more direct approach, who created the better chances as the half progressed. Rob Hill found White in the inside left channel and his shot was pushed round the post for a corner. Five minute later Falana's flick header into space saw White reach the ball before the advancing goalkeeper, who he rounded, but his shot was headed off the line by a defender. Halfway through the half the Dons had their best opening when Fernandes won the ball and released Wilson, whose long cross to the far post found Joe Hill. His header back across the goal fell invitingly to White just eight yards out but he failed to make good contact and the chance was lost. The half ended though with Wealdstone coming close to taking the lead. First, Joe Hill blocked a header on the goal line and then a long ball out of defence found a Wealdstone forward, who looked suspiciously offside but was allowed to play on and shot just past the post.
The second half found John Ellis replacing the injured Stuart Wilson and slotting in to the left-back spot. Rob Hill moved up into the midfield quartet, which had seen Kerry Watts come on for the injured Tommy McFadden during the first half. The breakthrough finally came on 65 minutes and the nature of the goal was no surprise. A long ball from the back found Falana's head who guided the ball into the path of Joe Hill on the right hand side. As the keeper advanced from his line Hill calmly slotted the ball into the far corner of the net to give the Dons the lead. Wealdstone quickly made three changes as they went in search of an equaliser but much as they huffed and puffed, they got little change from a tenacious Dons defence, well organised by Readings and Taylor, until Ellis, who had impressed at left back, underhit his back pass and let in the winger. With only Martin to beat, he chipped over the bar. With the whole team chasing, harrying and closing down space the Dons prevented any further chances until the seventh minute of added time when Martin made an excellent block to deny the equaliser and give the Dons a well earned win.
