Games Review
GAME 12
Tuesday 8th October 2022 - Kick-Off 7:45pm
League Two
2 (2) Wimbledon v Leyton Orient (0) 0
Assal 19 min,
Pell 35 min,
Summary
Before a ball was kicked tonight, I had resigned myself to yet another home defeat with another weak performance. For a side that hadn’t put two decent half together in one match all season this was going to be a test against an away side sitting top of the League 2 table. After one of the most abject performances away to a side bottom of the table of a division two below where we currently are. Following that performance which was a drab as the weather that day I was not expecting anything tonight. To my major and pleasant surprise, we played them off the park.
Well, maybe that last part isn’t strictly true, but this was on of the best complete performances that I have seen in probably close to two years. The game kicked off and the Dons started brightly but didn’t really look like scoring before Orient not only grew into the game but take control of it for the next 15 minutes. Hanging on in there but the Dons fought back and carved out some chances before they took one. Pell worked well down the right side sliding a precision pass through to Josh Davison who was unable to fight his way into the box and played the ball across the penalty area where he found Assal who cut inside and curled a shot. Right into the back of the defender which put a wicked curl on the shot that took it around the keeper and into the net. The ground erupted (well, not the away-end) but we were buzzing and now so was the Dons. Confidence grew and we actually continued to take the game to the league leaders. After another player was poleaxed by a midfield the ball fell for the rampant Ayoub Assal who took the ball and pelted into the penalty area. His shot was charged down and rolled out to Harry Pell who sent in a peach of a curling shot passed the static back four and the keeper. Two up the Dons went into the break confidently which was very unusual.
Coming out for the second half there was the usual air of those in my entire section that we are going to f*** this up again. Which meant we turned our voices up a notch or two and prepared for the worst. The second was fairly even with a couple of good chances at either end. They had a goalward bound shot that was headed off the line from Chris Gunther (I think) when Nik was AWOL and the goal was begging for the ball. Whilst at the other end Ethan Chislett skilfully curled a free kick around the wall away from the keeper and onto the post. The ball dropping back to Ayoub who’s shot was charged down and the O’s cleared. Moving into the final ten minutes of the official time Leyton Orient had the ball in the net, from a corner that was half cleared to outside the box a shot came back in and went through a crowd of players and into the back of the net. The away fans erupted with joy and a potential route back into the game. The celebrations were cut short when everyone spotted the lineman’s flag raised in the air. Ignoring the standard protocol, the referee decided to query the decision and ran over to have a conversation with the lino who confirmed his decision, and the goal was ruled out, much to the dismay of the travelling fans, players and officials. Having seen the replay (many times) it does look to me that the lino was spot on and the player designed to fuck over the keeper for the corner simply failed to get out in time. This annoyed the away bench, and the manager was booked. The scoreline held to the conclusion and the home team had finally beaten a team of higher stature for possible one of the best wins I’ve seen for nearly two years.
In conclusion there was a contradicting feeling of how had they only lost twice all season when they have less than us as an attacking force for most of the night. That said they were clearly not used to losing as the players were so temperamental. The dirty and wind-up tactics was not becoming of a team flying so high in the table so my only conclusion is that they must have been on a off night. This must have been there bad day at the office as they had very little repost to the Dons threat. Meanwhile the Dons had one of their best days at the office for many a time. Again, there have been many a false dawn with this club so I won’t be getting too excited by this one result but there is a growing belief that this might actually be a turning point where things might actually be looking up rather than back over our shoulders. There are many difficult games to come starting this Saturday when we travel to Salford City to face another side tipped for the top.
Player Rating:
[GK#1] Nik Tzanev = 7 [RB#2] Chris Gunter = 8 [CB #30] Paul Kalambayi = 8
[CB#12] Ryley Towler = 8 [LB#26] Jack Currie = 7 [CM#4] Alex Woodyard = 7
[CM #19] Paris Maghoma = 6 [CAM#8] Harry Pell = 8 [RAM#11] Ethan Chislett = 7 [LAM#10] Ayoub Assal = 8 [CF#9] Josh Davison = 7
Substitutes :
The Officials: 7
GAME 11
Saturday 6th November 2022 - Kick-Off 3:00pm
F.A. Cup - 1st Round
1 (0) Weymouth v Wimbledon (1) 1
Rose 70 min, Assal 5 min,
Summary
Here I am again trying to write a match report desperately trying not to turn this into yet another rant I will do my best and get going shall I? We travelled down to the Dorset coast to face Weymouth in the first round of the FA Cup, in what could have been seen as one of the luckiest draws we could have dreamed of. A team with a single league win, all season and just two other draws losing all the rest of their fixtures. In fact, they have won more cup games than league games. Claiming the scalp of Havant & Waterlooville in the previous round after navigating through from the second qualifying round to reach the first-round proper. With the Dons coming here on the back of the best form of the season claiming seven from a possible nine points in the last three games. There was only going to be one result.
The game kicked off and both sides tried to feel their way into the game. The Dons looked the better side early on and with a slip from the centre back pounced upon by Ayoub Assal who delicately chipped the advancing keeper and sent the away end into raptures. The goal buoyed the away side, and they took control and searched for another. Little did the away fans behind Nik’s goal had already seen the best thing of their team already. With the home team desperate not to concede another they shut up shop and dug in. It was slightly confusing to me to see a team concede and not hit the panic button; I wasn’t sure what the home side was doing!
The home side gathered themselves together and grew back into the game carving out some clear-cut chances. If Harry Kyprianou showed any kind of composure in front of goal the scores would have been level long before half-time. As a sidenote Harry compounded this miss but miskicking and fouling his way through the rest of the game, collecting a yellow card in the 80th minute. If it was bad game for him, it was about to become bad for the whole of the away squad. From about the midpoint of the first half the home side had wrestled the initiative away from the League Two side and was getting into the ascendancy.
After halftime, the weather conditions got worst, with spells of no rain, heavy showers with the majority of the time ‘that fine rain that goes right through you’. The wind was swirling, and it had to be difficult to play in those conditions and I thought this would be the excuse should the worst happen. [I was right]. A miracle happened from the home side as they managed to cope with the same conditions where the professional couldn’t. I find this excuse amazing as both teams play on the same field in the same rain and the same wind. The second half was [pretty much] one way traffic as the home side sent wave and wave of attack forward. The Dons were living on breaks and long balls. For me Paris had his worst performance in a Wimbledon shirt he couldn’t pass or tackle or contribute anything positive to the team. Which is unusual which is the complete opposite of Courtney Senior who was again non-existent as an attacking force/option for a side desperately looking for an option going forward. The lone striker of Josh was injured around the sixty-minute mark and remained on the pitch till the ninetieth minute. The rest of the team sat deeper and deeper as corner followed corner and free kicks dotted around the penalty area finally gave the home side what they desired.
In the sixty-ninth minute a free kick was awarded on the edge of the penalty area wall of four was made without George Marsh on the pitch there was not the man lying on the ground behind the wall and none of these three grand-a-week players wanted to lay on the wet and muddy ground. The striker stepped up to take the free kick that went under the jumping wall only for Nik who would have seen it late but still only managed to pushed the ball into the back of his own net. The home fans exploded with joy and I for one really couldn’t argue with their deserved equaliser.
With twenty minutes remaining the onslaught slowed but all the chances were being created at the far end and on the Wimbledon goal. It is tough to write but we were clinging on for a draw. A sixth-tier side was playing a League Two side off the park and making it look like the roles were completely reversed. The final whistle came as a bit of a surprise as I was waiting for the board to go up to show how long remained. The final whistle was met by silence from the away end, I counted five people clapping at the end of the game. I clapped at Zaki as a former Don who had helped embarrass his former side but walked away from our players. Not shouting anything negative but simply turned my back and walked. I will have my rant in the other page of this blog as I think I have worked out exactly what is wrong, but I fear recent results have papered over multiple cracks and these will come back and haunt us again very, VERY soon. Like on a Tuesday night for example.
Player Rating:
[GK#1] Nik Tzanev = 7 [RB#2] Chris Gunter = 6 [CB #30] Paul Kalambayi = 7
[CB#12] Ryley Towler = 7 [LB#26] Jack Currie = 6 [CM#4] Alex Woodyard = 6
[CM #19] Paris Maghoma = 4 [CAM#8] Harry Pell = 6 [RAM#25] Courtney Senior = 5 [LAM#10] Ayoub Assal = 7 [CF#9] Josh Davison = 7
Substitutes :
The Officials: 8
GAME 10
Saturday 29th October 2022 - Kick-Off 3:00pm
League Two
3 (1) Wimbledon v Harrogate Town (0) 2
Kalambayi 39 min, Daly 48 min,
Senior 84 min, McArdle 65 min
Davison 88 min,
Summary
Well, what can I say about that game today. I think the best way to sum this up is the feeling I have and it’s a weird one. First things first we won and for the statisticians out there this means that in eight home league games we have already won more home games that then entire league season last season. I should be over the moon that we have won a league game and all the jinx’s may well be over but there is something missing still, and this is what I cannot put my finger on yet maybe by the end of this report will be enough to conclude this feeling. Let’s get to the match, shall we?
The Dons did have the ball in the net very early on but some excellent work from Davison running into the box and beating players was ruined when Assal tapped the ball home only to be flagged offside. The first half was dominated by the Don’s, and you could argue that they should have been three or four up by the 35th minute but the stats wouldn’t agree with a single shot on target. That was until the 39th minute when a corner was sent deep and met with a Paul Kalambayi goalward header. It bounced around the six-yard box with two players fighting over it which neither seemed to get a touch and the bounce confused the keeper who seemed to slap the ball into the roof of the net. The dons had what they deserved, the lead and headed into the halftime period with a confidence they deserved. Discussion before the game was about how they haven’t managed to put two halves together in one match. Well today was going to be the day – Isn’t it?
Well, no! A very quick three minutes into the second half and what felt like the Wombles hadn’t had a touch of the ball and they were picking the ball out of their own net. Harrogate started the half with a neat passing move that went from one side of the pitch to the other. It ended with a long shot from well outside the area which was pushed by Nik Tzanev in the Wimbledon goal. Harrogate retrieved and recycled the ball by crossing into the six-yard box and from point blank range Nik saved a certain goal with his chest. The save fell to Matty Daly who tapped in from three yards out. One – One and the ever-faithful panic button was hit. The flow and passing was gone and the Dons were all out of sorts again. The stroll to three points was well and truly over and the game was Harrogate’s to grasp onto. They did so in the sixty-fifth minute when McArdle scored from a set piece. A deep corner was played back across the six-yard box where McArdle beat Kalambayi to the ball and forced the ball over the line and Harrogate into the lead.
Then the huffing and puffing started but for the first time in as long as I can remember there was actually a positive result. The murmuring and grumbling had begun when facing the final 10 minutes whilst trailing to side below us in the league who was below us in the table. I will be the first to admit I was one of them. I was ready to call for JJ departure when the ball was worked into the box, and I said (aloud so I have witnesses) that we have to score now to win this game and more so just to get anything out of this game. Within thirty seconds of that we were level which has divided opinion. Those that think that Courtney Senior chipped the ball delicately into the empty net after the keeper lost control or the correct group that saw the forward who was in the penalty area to clear the ball by hoofing it away. Hoofed it into Senior’s leg and it deflected into the open goal. Who cares says the as the shining white numbers of 2-2 was on the scoreboard.
Harrogate pressed forward and the ball was won and played back to Tzanev who took it under control and then played (ok hoofed it) down the field to find Davison who controlled it with his chest to beat the first defend before firing it into the back of the net. Plough Lane erupted like it had never done before. A dramatic late winner is something I thought only reserved for opposition players. Likewise with snatching results from behind I thought that was just gifts we give to other teams. The Dons had won a late one and everyone went home happy.
Or did they? Well, the away fans didn’t but that is not what I meant. Yes, we won, yes it was dramatic, and it gave everyone a lift. The next question is the first one again. Which I will answer but I will begin with an apology as I really don’t want to be negative after a win, but this was a home-game against Harrogate. No disrespect to Harrogate but they were one of the worst sides I’ve seen at Plough Lane for a long time, and they very nearly did a number on us. It could be that I was simply expecting way too much from us or too little from them, but they did enough to win the game and was a couple of bad touches away from doing just that. Sorry but I will struggle to get massively excited by beating a team in 21st position of the bottom pro-division. Based on the marketing blurb that was sold to us before a ball was kicked this season this was a promotion season. Well, within sixteen league games we are now celebrating beating Harrogate at home like we’ve just reached the quarterfinals of the FA Cup. I apologised and I meant it, but this feeling has come from the club it is the club that has hyped everything up and it is the club who was trying to subtly change things today. Pre-kick off we were asked to bring the atmosphere today, it felt like being begged. Then we are told that Nik gave the assist for the winning goal. Oh, has the keeper been moaned at recently? Well, it all feels like a desperate bid for support when the fans have been nothing but supportive for years and if the split has happened then the voice of the club must have something to do with it. The noises coming out are just marketing blurb to ensure more money/bums on seats and not the truth about the situation. If the club said we have a low budget and need more support it would have got it, but it said yes last season wasn’t great, but you should watch this season. Sadly, we have, and we have sunk to the point where a two-goal turnaround at the death is what we are celebrating. I am yet to be convinced.
However, that said I truly hope that his result is the catalyst that kick starts this faltering season. We have had little to celebrate this season but this result and more so how it came about could be the morale boost and motivator that really starts our season up. The fire and desire needs to start and it's about time. We (the fans) have seen many a false dawn and I for one have given up clutching at straws and I will accept the wonderous return to a team able to win any game when I actually get to see it.
Player Rating:
[GK#1] Nik Tzanev = 8 [CB#2] Chris Gunter = 7 [CB #30] Paul Kalambayi = 7
[CB#12] Ryley Towler = 7 [LB#26] Jack Currie = 7 [CM#4] Alex Woodyard = 7
[CM #19] Paris Maghoma = 6 [CAM#8] Harry Pell = 6 [RAM#11] Ethan Chislett = 6 [LAM#10] Ayoub Assal = 6 [CF#9] Josh Davison = 9
Substitutes :
The Officials: 5
GAME 9
Saturday 15th October 2022 - Kick-Off 3:00pm
League Two
0 (0) Wimbledon v Sutton United (1) 1
Eastmond 30 min
Summary
To say I am annoyed would be an understatement, nothing is working in here (laptop, internet, seat) which is symbolic of the club where clearly nothing is working there either. I feel like match reports are just repeated over and again. This could be a mirror image of the Barrow report. This team is exactly where it should be, and we cannot hide behind anything now. We are 17th and struggling to win at home. Says it all, three points off the relegation spots compared to twelve away from the play-offs says exactly which direction this team is heading.
Starting well the Dons looked surprisingly like taking the game to the opposition. Carving out chances which being completely honest should have been taken. That wasn’t to be, as steadily Sutton United grew into the game and started to create chances on the break. Along with the compulsory cockups at the back handing the odd chance to the away team as usual. the game was to turn on a pivotal decision of the referee. When an innocuous tackle was given as a free kick to Sutton United the free kick was floated into the box and as nick gathered the ball in his hands, he was impeded by a Sutton player the ball was dropped and followed up by another attacker who hoofed the ball onto the underside of the crossbar and into the back of the net. The fans behind the goal stood and waited for the free kick to be given. They waited and waited but it was never given, and the goal stood. The players were outraged and clearly annoyed and aggrieved but worst of all they never got over it. The huffing and puffing and sheer aggression continued until half time. Second-half the aggression and determination evaporated, and we slumped back into the usual mind-numbing boredom of failing to penetrate their defence, failing to create chances yet still managing to invite chance after chance by inadequate defending inadequate goal keeping passing to the opposition passing the ball out of play and generally just being awful and completely dreadful. In all honesty the second half was pointless we should have just stayed in the changing rooms and just said okay you've got this one take the three points and we will all sod off home to save loads of time.
Unfortunately, I am becoming fed up with these dour and dire performances where it feels like they are simply unimpressive and just going through the motions of hoping to create a chance without actually putting the efforts into attacking. We see it each time and every time we play at home, if a half chance doesn’t come off then we just run out of ideas with a complete lack of invention, lack of pushing forward, lack of aggression, lack of ability, lack of so many different things needed by a team. The sad thing is we have seen them do it and know they can do everything they lack yet they turn up go through the motions, lose and get the paycheque at the end of the week. As the season is progressing and you watch game after game you start to realise that this is the norm, and the Colchester and Gillingham wins are the unusual results and performances. They are the odd games and the rubbish served up each week is the usual. What I really struggle with is that this is a Wimbledon team that doesn't battle hard, it doesn't work hard, there is just nothing and that's what we're dealing with week in and week out. Currently I cannot get beyond the feeling of we are lacking in all departments and then they are expecting people to come and pay hard earned money in this day and age to watch no desire, no effort, with no ideas, no invention, no creativity and quite frankly in the second-half not one shot on target when chasing a game. Why would you expect paying punters to return after that second half is beyond me. Today could now easily be the biggest game of our season as the rest of it looks bleak and very barren.
To be honest we should have been potentially two or three goals to the good before they scored, but after that and when we should be chasing a game, we tried very hard to shoot ourselves in the foot time and again. We lost control of the ball, we passed straight to their forwards, we created no chances and were simply stale. Lacking any style and was plain, vanilla, dull and boring it was just not good to watch and as a result they created all the decent chances, and we had nothing in the second half at all. If I am honest with myself, they really should of have three or four following their first. Yes, we can blame the referee for the goal. Yes, we could potentially blame the goalkeeper and the defenders for not being strong but where was the fight after that setback? Where was the - we're in a local Derby here let’s compete? Let's kick lumps out of people!! Let's fight this battle!! Let's work so hard that everyone can see just what this team is about, we may lose but we are going down fighting. Sadly, I can see where this team is going and next season when we're playing Maidenhead and Dorking and that is no disrespect to them as they would probably beat this team anyway. Let’s look on the bright side we going to have one of the best stadiums outside the professional ranks. The flipside of that is we will have one of the biggest unfilled stadiums in the National league as well. I just hope the performances will actually improve at that level.
Player Rating:
[GK#1] Nik Tzanev = 6 [CB#2] Chris Gunter = 5 [CB #30] Paul Kalambayi = 6
[CB#12] Ryley Towler = 6 [LWB#26] Jack Currie = 5 [RWB#33] Isaac Ogundere = 5 [CM#8] Harry Pell = 6 [CM #19] Paris Maghoma = 5 [CAM#11] Ethan Chislett = 5 [CF#9] Josh Davison = 5 [CF#10] Ayoub Assal = 5
Substitutes :
The Officials: 3
GAME 8
Saturday 1st October 2022 - Kick-Off 3:00pm
League Two
2 (0) Wimbledon v Colchester United (1) 1
Davison 47 & 66 Min (pen) Appiah 18 min
Summary
I am confused as there was so many positives to take from today which I will get to, but I have to try and explain how I feel right now as I am completely unsure. It could well be that we won a game and I have over time completely forgot what that feeling is like. It has got to the stage where whoever we play, we should never expect a positive result from this side. I could add that we are 274 days into this year, and this is our second home league win.
What I desperately would love is to be surprised by this team, strike that and amend it to – I would love to be able to be pleasantly surprised by this team. This season they have surprised me by how poor they have been but not with a shock result of beating someone we never could have predicted. That said today they did things and achieved things I haven’t seen from them before so let’s start with the positives shall we. This is the first time this team has gone behind and recovered to win a game. This is the second home win of the season equalling the total number of home wins last season. Davison took his season’s tally to 4 goals, and we finally got awarded a penalty for a foul on Assal. Which is why I am completely confused to how I don’t feel ecstatic right now. The answer is that we have been told over and over again that a win would change the fortunes of this side and I have reached the point of not believing. It’s a bit like waiting for Christmas and not get any presents. After three years of no gifts, you start to lose your festive spirit. That sadly is where I am now.
The game kicked off and, in the group chat I am in some posted a message of 0-1 Appiah. This was a joke that was followed by me sending exactly the same message with the sentence not a joke following it. The game had started reasonably evenly but they were clearly much more adept at the dark arts. As Assal and Currie was hacked to ground and only yellows were shown. The crucial moment happened as good work by their attacking right saw a cross fly across the six-yard box. Youngster Isaac Ogundere was underneath it and static as the experienced Kwesi Appiah leapt over his head to win the ball. Riffling his header above 6ft4 Nik Tzanev’s head and into the back of the net. That must mean squeezing the ball into a gap of 1ft 8inches for those non-mathematicians among us. Everything was back to normal as the Dons huffed and puffed like usual, with both Currie and Maghoma firing wide of the target when chances were created well. Half time came about, and the air of disappointment hung low around the fans.
The second half was a shock to the system as suddenly the team who looks like slumping to another home defeat had some fire in their eyes and some fight in their belly’s. This new resolve quickly showed dividends as Harry Pell was brought down in the box the ball fell to the feet of Josh Davison who struck home the equaliser. Tails were up and the Dons were creating opportunities and making forays into the opposition box. One of which saw Ayoub Assal booted up in the air as he got between the defender and the ball. Josh Davison was given the task of taking the resulting penalty and he calmly slotted the ball home, sending the keep the wrong way.
We were winning at home, and it wasn’t just the fans that were completely confused with this situation the players decided to hit the panic button. This saw all the usual let’s defend and see if we can see out the game. Why do we have this attitude? I don’t know. We sat deeper and deeper and invited attack after attack after playing them off the pitch for 35 second half minutes then suddenly we have something to hold onto. Well, we wall know the result of that don’t we. The shock here was we didn’t actually screw it up and we held on for a win.
Now why and feeling still a bit M’eh! To explain we are playing at home to the current fourth worst team in professional football in England and in the final 10 minutes of normal time. The fans are cheering when we get goal kicks, and the forwards are holding the ball by the oppositions corner flags. Yes, we won but we still had to cling on to get this one over the line. Which is yet another nail in the ‘we just aren’t that good’ poster currently on my wall. I really hope this is the turning point for the season and we grow from here, but I will put my half time conversation onto the other page on this blog.
Player Rating:
[GK#1] Nik Tzanev = 6 [CB#2] Chris Gunter = 6 [CB#3] Lee Brown = 7
[CB#12] Ryley Towler = 7 [LWB#26] Jack Currie = 7 [RWB#33] Isaac Ogundere = 6 [CM#8] Harry Pell = 7 [CM #19] Paris Maghoma = 7 [CAM#11] Ethan Chislett = 6 [CF#9] Josh Davison = 8 [CF#10] Ayoub Assal = 8
Substitutes :
The Officials: 7
GAME 7
Saturday 16th August 2022 - Kick-Off 3:00pm
League Two
2 (1) Carlisle United v Wimbledon (0) 1
Guy 45mins, Assal 59 mins
Dennis 81 mins
Summary
A bit like last season I decided to start this one early with a bit of a preview of this game. As a potential foreboding of the game the night before leaving for the endless journey in the car, I actually had a dream. I will add at this stage that I never remember my dreams, so this is something very strange. I won’t go into details but in the dream, I accidentally cut off my own foot. Could sum up this whole weekend, I fear.
Coming into this game many a Dons fan looks at this (and any) fixture with a sense of fear and concern. Hovering a mere four points above the relegation zone in a league where we have a budget that suggest this should be in the top half as a minimum. Which then leads into the next part of the issue. What is wrong. There are a few options and I have heard it’s the players, it’s the manager, it’s the board or its just plain old bad luck. For me there will be a combination of a few things but the main issue could be one of a few possibilities. One being that its early in the season and the side simply hasn’t gelled together yet. (No, I don’t believe that). There does appear to be something disjointed in the way we play. What appears to be the issue which I fear, and which is growing after performance after performance and that is tactically the manager doesn’t know what is best. On Tuesday I looked at the team that I watch every week and didn’t have a clue what formation was selected. I watched the game, and I am still not sure. Yes, we started more positively than we have all season but the same old cock up occurred and low and behold we were done. I will add another little fact that once this side goes behind it remains there. 1-0 down means defeat, we do not come from behind. We look best when frustrating the opposition scoring on the break and then picking off more goals. Well two we never score more than two – EVER!
Should I predict that we start slowly grow into the game and look to be getting on top just as we concede and go back into our shells. We huff and puff but cannot find an equaliser slipping to yet another battling defeat. OK sorry I will give the actual match review below:
Well, how wrong I was!! We started slowly when nearly conceding early with yet another poor back pass that was intercepted by Ryley Towler who was saved by the vigilance of Alex Pearce to dig him out of the whole. After the first 10 minutes the Dons grew into the game and took a real grasp of the game. The Dons actually looked to press forward and attack although never really looked like scoring with a gilt-edged chance. This lasted for about 20 minutes and the game evened out until the gift of space and time was given to Callum Guy who used this kind present to curl the ball past a diving Tzanev in the Wimbledon goal. Coming moments before half time, the manager had the opportunity to get them in and refocus ready for the battle in the second half.
The Dons started by hoofing the ball into touch. Losing possession over and over again and gifting throws after failing to control passes. United should have taken one of two gilt edge chances and had a very loud appeal for hand ball when the ball hit Lee Browns hand. Yes, it did, and I would have been shouting if it was down the other end. Nothing was given, which was the same result when they had another two appeals turned down later in the half.
The usual tippy-tappy passey-wassey business at the back continued up until someone forgot what the plan was, when Nik Tzanev played the ball long to Josh Davison who had battled all afternoon flicked the ball onto a galloping Ayoub Assal who beat Tomas Holy to equalise. I for one was completely confused as this had never happened before and so was Carlisle who seem to hit their own panic button. The Dons piled forward with the attacking formation that had just come together and a unpredictable away win was a possibility.
Things returned to normal with the attacking setup completely forgot that it may have to defend as well. It was simply something that these cannot do. The winning goal was always coming before a far post header beat Nik with 8 and a bit remaining on the clock. The game was over and the usual huffing and puffing began but never really looked like happening beyond a penalty shout of our own and a free kick that hit the middle of Tomas Holy’s belly. No real chance of scoring ever turned up and tempers rose, and fights nearly began but no goal scoring attempts occurred. Be prepared for shock we lose away from home with two shots on target compared to seven of the home side.
This side is one of the poorest I have seen in a Dons shirt for a while. This was the first goal in four games and one of the worst starts to a season in the last three at least. Here is the proof:
Four points worse than we were in the previous two seasons at this stage. I know that Robbo’s season fell off a cliff and hit every defeat branch on the way down, but this side simply doesn’t look like turning that corner. We had that scenario with Robbo for about three months before a change was made (when it was too late). All I can say is with the manager saying we are going to get through this it had better happen soon otherwise the teams below us will start winning before we do.
Player Rating:
[CB #12] Ryley Towler = 6 [CB #15] Alex Pearce = 6 [LWB #26] Jack Currie = 6 [CM #6] George Marsh = 6 [CM #19] Paris Maghoma = 6 [CAM #11] Ethan Chislett = 6
Substitutes :
The Officials: 7
GAME 6
Tuesday 13th August 2022 - Kick-Off 7:45pm
League Two
0 (0) Wimbledon v Northampton Town (1) 2
Pearce (og) 27 min
Towler (og) 69 min
Summary
The goal-scorers are what I believe and not the official records, but this will be one of the shortest match reports I think I will write as it feels like so many games from last season. It almost feels like this is scripted and the same again and again. A friend of mine predicted this a week ago. Saying that we would start alright look to get a foothold in the game and then do something stupid concede a weak goal around the 30-minute mark. Another little fact under the stewardship of JJ we do NOT make comebacks. If we concede the first goal, you might as well grab your coat as we cannot chase a game.
OK so to give you a match report two reasonably even teams squared up on a wet and wild Tuesday night and all the hallmarks of the last couple of seasons were there. A weak free kick was awarded pretty much on the corner flag. The cross came in headed back across the goal by their leading goal scorer and it hits the back of the Dons club captains, and the keeper cannot readjust to make the stop. Even though the ball was travelling at 3 mph and crawled into the bottom corner, it was not stopped. The Dons reacted in their usual way of huffing and puffing and in fairness creating better chances but ultimately their keeper and our finishing kept our clean sheet very secure.
To complete the typical game, we gifted a second own goal in the 69th minute and any chance of a comeback (let's be honest there wasn’t much of one really was there) was all done and dusted.
Not sure if it was the final huff or the final puff but Hudlin managed to hit the crossbar from a couple of yards out which was my queue to leave. Yes, I am making the journey up to Carlisle so anticipate a match report for the Carlisle United game probably Sunday, but I will have to see if I take the laptop for the journey to be able to give a quicker report on here or not. I will decide closer to the time. I will put the players scores below then do the comparison of the previous two season as I promised so that table will be below that with some additional comments.
Player Rating:
Substitutes :
[RW #37] Paul Osew = 6 [CM #6] George Marsh = 5 [CF #39] Quaine Bartley = 6 [LB #26] Jack Currie = 6 [CF #18] Kyle Hudlin = 6
The Officials : 7
This season is in Blue, last season in Green and the season before in Yellow. Which means after 8 games we are in a worse position than Mark Robinson or Glynn Hodges had us in. Mark was in the highest position being 7th Glynn was worse than our current position by one spot but had a single point more than we do right now. The interesting thing here is that Glynn was reported to have one of the smallest playing budgets for that division at the time and Robinson had one of the lowest 4 budgets for that division, JJ has between the 7th and 12th highest budget for this division. I just leave that there and continue with these updates as I go
GAME 5
Saturday 27th August 2022 - Kick-Off 3:00pm
League Two
0 (0) Wimbledon v Barrow AFC (1) 1
Gordon 10 mins
Summary
The game started in the usual way for the current Dons set up. i.e. – and if you could image this sung as a child in playground ‘Let’s just keep the ball at the back.’ This resulted in Will passing the ball to the winger that had provided the most assist for them this season. Somehow, they missed!?! We gifted plenty more opportunities that Barrow also managed to fluff their lines and miss until they actually generated one for themselves. Again, down the Dons right where (sorry) but Will was tricked and the winger (that has a hatful of assists already this season) gets to the edge of the box and fizzes a low cross that Gordon tried hard to miss but shinned it into the gapping net.
Back to the passing around the back again. At one point Lee Brown and Alex Pearce exchanged over ten passes back and forth. Which got them as near to the opposition goal as when they received the ball in the first place. Now I understand the frustration of the fans around me as this continued despite being a goal down, but I was more concerned about the fact that the midfield today was non-existent. Was George Marsh playing as I couldn’t tell. Ethan Chislett performed well as the link to the front two but in the first half was just a shadow. The front two starved of any kind of service started dropping deeper and deeper in an attempt to pick up the ball which wasn’t required as they never (and I mean never) received a pass anyway. Jack Currie was left to chase hopeful punts up field which was largely returned with interest. Going back to my earlier point we have to give credit to Barrow here they moved second in the table with the win, and they sat tight on everyone particularly in the first half. Which forced Wimbledon into a patient style of play by keeping the ball at the back whilst they searched for a gap or a chance to actually move the ball forward and into an attacking position. With the frustration pouring onto the stands which became audible the defence without a midfield option resorted to lumping it forward straight to their defence which was met with even more groans of disapproval. The frustration around the place was noticeably clear when the half time whistle blew.
I will qualify the next sentence by saying that I am (well was) a qualified referee and I used to defend them on the terraces every week and there is a part of me that defends them. Normally after raging and shouting and swearing at them for a while and then reflecting I can see where things went the way they did. Today this is the second game this season where there was just no way of winning a decision out of this guy. I would love to see the statistics on the number of fouls and their locations for each team. As I seem to remember plenty when there was an aerial battle on the edge of a penalty area (either) but we very few were given to the Dons anywhere near the Barrow penalty area. In fact, he gave a free kick on our own touchline and rather than a goal kick enforced the kick on the line, so the keeper was out of the goal. Every fifty/fifty went their way, we had a goal disallowed and a penalty turned down despite Assal being hacked to the ground without the ball again. I say again as this is a weekly occurrence and not one referee wants to actually defend the youngster. Meanwhile the vultures are circling to drag him away, if he does go, I hope he gets more protection in a higher division than he does in the pitiful officials filling the ranks of the fourth tier. They are so much worse than last season and I didn’t think that was possible.
The wombles huffed and puffed throughout the second half they were much improved and more direct. They never looked in control of the game and breaking down the stubborn and solid defensive Barrow side was never going to happen. When we did the referee was on hand to break the attack down or disallow goals or ignore fouls against us. We have a new kit this season unfortunately it must be Harry Potters invisibility cloak material as referee can never see us getting kicked up in the air but if you scream and wave hard enough everything goes against us.
We sit in twelfth spot in the table and sadly this may the highest we could expect to be come the end of the season. I think it sums up based on the results so far that we look very much like a mid-table team and despite the media bumph that is peddled out we are going to be more frustrated this season.
Player Rating:
[CB #5] Will Nightingale = 5 [CB #15] Alex Pearce = 6 [LWB #26] Jack Currie = 6 [CM #6] George Marsh = 5 [CM #19] Paris Maghoma = 7 [CAM #11] Ethan Chislett = 6
Substitutes :
The Officials : 3
GAME 4
Tuesday 16th August 2022 - Kick-Off 7:45pm
League Two
5 (2) Mansfield Town v Wimbledon (2) 2
Oates 32 mins, Davison 4, 16 mins
Lapslie 40 mins, Maris 52 mins
Harbottle 70 mins, Swan 87 mins,
From Kick-Off
From the start of the second half:
Summary
I will call this as I see it and assume there may be some bad language to follow (I assume, and I make no promises either way). Being as this was my first trip to Mansfield Town, I never appreciated that the ground only has three sides, and the away end (behind the goal) just didn’t give you a good view of the far end of the pitch.
Now it is very easy to bitch and moan about driving for six hours, in floods, thunderstorms, aquaplaning, getting wet and yet feeling hot and sticky. Only to watch a 5-2 thumping. Well, yes there might well be some of that feeling in what will follow. It is also very easy to blame the referee for the result and yes there will be a hell of a lot of that to follow but I am not blaming him for the performance. Then there were the players that have not won in the last four games after going winless for 27 games prior to that single win that bridge the 31 games. They are not far from escaping blame for this shambolic result.
Ok I will admit this will not be much of a match report as this will be more of the feeling I have right now dressed up as a match report. Before the game I was surprisingly more confident than many I spoke to, we were unbeaten in the league up against a strong side that I had at an even level to Gillingham who had spanked us out of the league cup earlier in the month. The game started and we scored with three minutes and fifteen seconds on the clock. Could I describe the goal? No, it was at the far end and to be honest I wasn’t even convinced it was a goal in the first place as the away fans stood in stunned silence as Josh peeled away and celebrated his first goal for the Dons. This was quickly followed by his second before fourteen was on the minutes of the match clock to my left. Meanwhile, Assal gets thrown around like a ragged doll as, yet another break begins no yellow card. Our players are kicked up in the air no yellow cards waved. At one point an independent app had the match stats as the Wombles had six fouls against them yet no bookings for the home side. Meanwhile without committing a foul the Dons had three cards. From memory I would not argue with that stat.
Sitting at two-nil I would expect this current Dons team to resort back to the ‘shit-house mode’. They never really had the chance as the referee put pay to that by performing some shit-housery of his own. First waving cards at those in red and ignoring the shit-housery by those in yellow shirts. This was compounded when a player that looked offside from my point of view ran through, and the ball was played to the keeper. I was waiting for an indirect free kick for a back pass. I didn’t have to worry about that as he awarded a penalty. With the players looking stunned the penalty was slotted home to half the deficit. With the side still in shock within eight minutes the lead was gone completely. Some farting around on the right allowed the Stags to move the ball to the left and George Lapslie was found with a sweet cross unmarked where he headed the ball over Tzanev’s head and into the net.
If throwing yet another 2-goal lead away wasn’t bad enough things took yet another turn for the worse as after winning a challenge on the edge of the penalty area and getting a booting at the same time (my initial view) and whilst stranded on the floor Gunter gets the ball booted at his head. Worthy of a sending off. Chris gets up and pushes the cunt sorry opposition in the back and he goes down like someone (I wish someone would) had shot him, clutching his face (which was never touched). The referee who had been plenty bias up until that point stayed true to himself and sent the Dons defender off. A straight red for pushing someone over. Meanwhile the cunt in yellow gets a yellow apparently, I do not remember this as I was seeing red, and I am not talking about the card. The c-bombs and f-bombs were flying out of me firstly at the bias referee and then in the half time discussion. As the half time slowly ticked by the realisation that from memory, we had broken four times from the Stags persistent pressure and got fouled (blatantly once) scored two and missed the other, the rest of the time we were on the back foot. Now the shit-house diving has turned the entire games into a potential onslaught. A point was the best that we could probably hope for.
I am sorry to say it, but I had two thoughts, firstly that if the goal came, we would never recover, and the result wouldn’t be in doubt as soon as the third goal came. We would have to defend like warriors for forty-five minutes plus whatever the bias twat added on to give them more chances (if required). The second and more depressing thought was that their next goal would happen it was merely just a matter of time rather than if they could break us down.
Eleven minutes into the second half the goal came more work down their right and the ball was worked into the box. For me, the shot was going in when it was diverted off the newly introduced young defender Isaac Ogundere, which was really unfortunate, but shit happens, and all had come at once tonight. For me, the game was done and dusted at this stage. The brittle defence for the past 31 games wasn’t going to suddenly change its spots and the Dons who had some attacking options withdrawn to hold out for a point had reached the shit or get off the pot stage. In JJ’s defence he did roll the dice and tried to change things again but ultimately what happened was a shambles of mismatched placements, shadow chasing and a game that was once in the palm of our hand not slipping through the fingers but rushing away at pace long before the fingers could attempt to grasp it.
I am being completely honest here when the fourth hit the net I saw fellow dons leaving it didn’t lessen my opinion of them and I was tempted myself although I didn’t then. I did sit down however, which due to those still standing around me prevented me seeing half the pitch and I really didn’t care by that stage. The game was done, and the fifth goal made up our minds to face the over three-hour drive home and call it a night.
In reflection my thoughts are that we were second best all night. Yes, we got off to a blinder and on many other nights we would have held on for a point or even better. Tonight, we got a reminder of just how brittle and low the confidence is around the camp still is. I was at the point where I was starting to believe the hype and thinking I was wrong with a year of struggle ahead. Looking at the results and performances so far this season we are pretty much where I said we are. A struggle to get to mid-table and every point will be a valuable one. Promotion is for others to speak about for me each point closer to the 52 needed to stay clear of the bottom is the most important. Looking at the results we have had a win against 20th placed Gillingham a point against Hartlepool United who are yet to score in the league. A point at home against 7th placed Doncaster Rovers throwing up a good result of a draw against a side that will be up there come the end of the season.
I am not shouting for major changes at the club right now, but I believe the biggest issue here is finances. It is why we are playing hard ball with a player or two for them to go so we can spend the money they will generate. With this tough approach it means deals need to be ready ahead of the players being sold. If the money isn’t there nothing happens. If we are gambling on someone going to be able to get cash, then time is a major factor when the clock is ticking on the window slams shut before we can get someone else. There is a week and a bit to make those dramatic moves. Post-game JJ said they are shallow in certain areas (not area) so are we looking at two, three or four new signings before the window closes. My guess would be loan signings and some free players who we can actually afford. Let’s just wait and see, will we? Oh, sidenote we have been tricked with social media click bait before when kit launches had happened so forgive me for keeping my powder dry until deals are actually done.
See there was some swearing but not as many as I first thought. Although it was one of the worst words out there, but I was annoyed and angry.
Player Rating:
[CB #5] Will Nightingale = 5 [CB #15] Alex Pearce = 5 [LWB #26] Jack Currie = 5 [CM #6] George Marsh = 6 [CM #19] Paris Maghoma = 4 [CAM #7] NYC = 7
Substitutes :
The Officials : 2
GAME 3
Saturday 13th August 2022 - Kick-Off 3:00pm
League Two
2 (0) Wimbledon v Doncaster Rovers (0) 2
Nathan Young-Coombes Rowe 86 mins
76 mins & 84 mins Williams 90+4 mins
Summary
A season has gone by and an overhaul of the squad yet with new players, new manager and a whole new feeling around the place Wimbledon have again managed to throw a two-goal lead away at home to Doncaster Rovers.
The Dons started in their usual mood for a JJ team with the team more than happy to keep the ball at the back and move it around slowly and just in time method. This invited Donny forward and despite what I am about to write below about the first half it was Doncaster that looked the better side at the break. Rovers looked like they would take the game to the home Dons at some point the goal would come. The referee didn’t help with this coming up with some dubious decision which really didn’t wa (rm me towards him. Wimbledon lack of forward motion in the first twenty minutes is becoming a staple of the JJ tenor. This appeared to be frustrating some of the home fans in the stands. I can completely understand that, but I can also appreciate that the heat was relentless, and the players out there had to save some of their energy for the whole game which ironically came back to bite them on the arse. The wombles continued with the persistence of the ‘just in time’ approach to passing the ball around the back. What this does allow is time to find a pass or a switch to the opposite side and the real opportunity to make some attacks and the yellow and blue army really looked a threat when doing so. The half concluded with a (HOW?).
The second half saw a complete change with Dons dominant and hungry for goals and Doncaster looking dangerous on the break. The continuous pressure finally paid dividends when NYC bundled to the ball into the net. The place erupted but the referee had other ideas and he blew for a handball which from my initial viewing no defenders appealed for. The goal was rubbed out and the game went back into the same pattern. If the first goal (that wasn’t) was a bundle, then the first actual goal was a full-on bun fight. Paris Maghoma delivered another excellent pass, this time out to the left where Lee Brown was on hand to deliver a beautiful glided cross onto Josh Davison head. His header beat the keeper but not the post and it bounce back to a waiting Nathan Young-Coombes who chipped it over the keeper and into the net. Except the keeper scooped it back out again back to NYC who again beat him and again a Donny player hooked it out and back to NYC who’s attempted back heel was stopped by the referee’s whistle as he had already given the goal.
If the first two goals were bundle’s the work from Ayoub Assal for the second goal was sublime. He beat defender after defender to firstly get down the wing and then to get into the box and then deliver the ball across the goal where NYC was on hand again so get (in my opinion) a poor connection with the ball it bounced onto the post and into the back of the net.
2-0 with 85 minutes on the clock the game was done and dusted, right? Well, No it wasn't! Two minutes after the second “Legal” goal Rowe hit a rocket through a crowd of players and into the net. Full credit to him but the defence had three opportunities to clear before that rocket struck. Donny got a new lease of life from nowhere and went on to get a second from a corner. I must add at this point we haven’t defended corners wonderfully well all season and the first half should have put the warning signs out but again five centre back in the penalty area and yet Williams their central defender headed unmarked for the undeserved equaliser for the second season running.
Shall I mention the referee? Who couldn’t keep consistent with himself which is my biggest bugbear. Davison gets a booking for over celebrating the second goal or it was delaying the restart yet their 94th minute equaliser’s celebrations went on for a while and no bookings for over celebrating or delaying the restart. Which was consistent as he gave the away side so many benefit of the doubt situations. A bookable foul, advantage play on, another bookable foul, play on advantage, a third and final bookable foul to eventually break up the attack. One yellow card. What happened to the other two well don’t worry about that. Assal shows the defender a clean pair of heels and although a long way out he was clean through for a potential one on one with the keeper the number two hauls him to the ground. Booking. Yet we get bookings for delaying the game. They had free kick after freekick for a high ball contested in the air meanwhile we got very little. Last week at Hartlepool the ref was equally poor for both sides where this guy got the whole home support on his back. (Very unusual for where I sit in the ground).
Again, we throw a potentially vital two points away at home to a Doncaster Rovers side who unlike last season look like they will be a very strong contender at the other end of the table. The niggly little thing gnawing at the back of my head is we could be sat at the top of the table with three wins and nine points but instead we have five points and a place outside the play-offs. I am still not yet convinced we are over last season’s vulnerabilities, and my pre-season prediction of a struggle hasn’t gone away.
Player Rating:
[CB #5] Will Nightingale = 7 [CB #15] Alex Pearce = 7 [LWB #26] Jack Currie = 7 [CM #6] George Marsh = 7 [CM #19] Paris Maghoma = 8 [CAM #11] Ethan Chislett = 6 [CF #9] Josh Davison = 7 [CF #10] Ayob Assal = 8
Substitutes :
The Officials : 5
GAME 2
Saturday 6th August 2022 - Kick-Off 3:00pm
League Two
0 (0) Hartlepool United v Wimbledon (0) 0
Summary
As I drove up to Hartlepool the day before which took close to seven hours before the final fifteen minutes the morning of the game (I did go to the Royal Navy Museum as well). The game will not be in as much detail as the old grey matter may have forgotten some things in the six-hour drive home and sleeping since.
The game started with the home side applying the pressure while the Dons appeared to be happy soaking this up and happily keeping the ball at the back. The Dons seemed to grow into the game and then started to impose themselves on the game. Making some clear-cut chances and the one thing I did notice was frustration from other players with Ayoub where he would shoot rather than find a fellow forward in a better position. That said quite often he was allowed to go bombing on (or more so into the box) without any support around him. There was one where he was almost on the backline and decide to shoot rather than play it back to an unmarked Davison. On another occasion he shot from outside the box rather than using the support that he did have (on that occasion). Now I want to make it clear that I am not suggesting a dressing room break up or a falling out merely something I saw from (more than one) player on the pitch today.
For me the Dons were on top for the last fifteen minutes of the first half and didn’t break the deadlock at this stage. I think if they had the result could have been very different with a fragile team following the 4-0 humbling on the opening day. With a lead and the constant acts to frustrate the Dons could have gone on to run out big winners. However, the home side hung in there and got to the break with a goalless score-line. At the time I said the Wombles would have been annoyed the break happened as they were really on top of the game.
The second half began the way the first had concluded with the Dons searching for the opener which could have really opened the flood gates. As this didn’t happen the control of the game was wrestled away around before the sixty-minute mark, and it was then the Wombles who spent the rest of the game hanging on and digging deep to hold onto a point. All the clear-cut chances fell to the home-side and the away team had to try and feed on breakaways and counter attacks. Nik was forced into an amazing point blank save whilst falling over an attacker on the floor. Pool hit the crossbar when Nik was beaten. Will (I am told) attempted back pass went over Nik’s head and he had to scramble back to pass the ball onto the other defenders. Hartlepool United looked like the side that was going to go on and claim the three points which combined with the Wombles reluctance to commit men forward led to some frustration in the away end. This wasn’t helped with more reluctance to push on when on the break and forwards would turn back looking for support rather than bombing into the box.
Ultimately, it was a point gained rather than two dropped. It was not an easy place to come to and I was happy with a point in the end. At half time I would have given a different answer.
Player Rating:
[CB #5] Will Nightingale = 7 [CB #15] Alex Pearce = 7 [LWB #26] Jack Currie = 7 [CM #6] George Marsh = 8 [CM #19] Paris Maghoma = 7 [CAM #11] Ethan Chislett = 7 [CF #9] Josh Davison = 7 [CF #10] Ayob Assal = 7
Substitutes :
The Officials : 7
GAME 1
Saturday 30th July 2022 - Kick-Off 3:00pm
League Two
2 (1) Wimbledon v Gillingham (0) 0
Ethan Chislett 15 mins
Jack Currie 71 mins
Summary
I make no apology if this match summary is bias. I am a Wimbledon fan. However, I will try and be honest and just give my view of the game.
This game and more so the result was a long time in coming. In fact, 245 days had ticked past as this game reached its conclusion, since the Don's last won a competitive fixture. Since that victory there has been a drop in division which realistically was inevitable when you consider the twenty-eight games without a win. Which also highlights how poor League 1 was last season as four more draws and it could of all been so different. No matter as the past is in the past and no matter what you wish or what might have been it wasn’t, and it cannot be changed. The fixture gurus had decided to throw this game up first so although this is a tier four (League Two) game it was played by two League One teams from the last campaign. Not knowing how this would play out or how either team would cope with this strange new world. The surrounding and opposition were familiar the setting was different last season went head-to-head on the opening day of the season. With two teams looking to start a new campaign well and one (well us) looking to exorcise the demon of a winless run going back to December 2021.
The game began with Wimbledon appearing to have slipping back into the slow and steady passing around the back. Inviting forwards into pressing and closing down with the majority of the crowd intaking of breath every time a pass was a little short or a forward lunged trying to cut off a pass. It had the feel of 'when' rather the 'if' the cock-up happened to concede that early goal that put us on the back foot. The tactic of getting backed into a corner then hoofing the ball forward for the attackers to scrap and fight for the second ball which did not happen very often. That said if the Wombles appeared toothless at that end the Gills seemed equally annulled at the other.
That was until Wimbledon eventually won some of the scraps and attacked down the left eventually winning a corner in the 14th minute. This was whipped in and was confidently dealt with by the Gills defensive unit, heading out of the box. Landing at the feet of the man I said wasn’t good enough to earn a new contract last season – namely Ethan Chislett. He took one touch to take control and a second to fire the ball into the top left corner of the net. New Plough Lane erupted in euphoria and probably more so - relief.
I noticed two things in the opening 22 minutes firstly that the thing people were worried about namely - the pissing around with the ball at the back and the refusal to move it forward. Well, when given the opportunity Gillingham were doing exactly the same thing. The difference between the two sides were that the Womble press was nowhere near as eager and energetic as the Gills allowing them to be much more comfortable back there. I also noticed that by minute 22 the Gills attacking option had tuckered out and stopped chasing every pass, the closing down and chasing of shadows had ceased. When the ball was passed away from their zone they stood with hands on hips. Allowing Lee Brown to happily stand completely still with the ball under his left boot. Time was on our side, and they were not in a rush. It also meant that the Dons could now start to play their game passing and moving and keeping possession. Suddenly the play at the back seemed composed the passing had the men in white chasing shadows. Long balls were competed for, admittedly rarely won but the fight was there for the home fans to see. The first half played out with the Dons looking assured and in control.
At half time, those around me (including me) talked about how many times we threw away positions like this last season. With the old worries creeping back in the second half began with those fears materialising. Gillingham who I assumed had had a flea in their ears from the assistant manager or if Neil Harris was allowed in the dressing room (he was serving a single game ban), came out as a different animal which much bigger teeth than the tiring bunch from the first half. The passing was more clinical they were threading passing through the back five of the Wombles and looking very threatening. They created three clear cut chances which on another day (definitely last season) would easily have at least two nestle in the back of the home net. Today was different, this was a new beginning and new season, and those chances flew wide of Tzanez’s goal. In fact, he didn’t have to make a save during this time.
Nik Tzanez only save in the second half in fact came from a free kick. As always, the free kick didn’t appear justified in these eyes and was whipped around the left side of the wall and was about to hit the back of the net. Nik was scrambling across the goal and had to readjust to clutch the ball out of the air. Eventually the second half started to settle down and even the Wombles looked to attack as well. It became a much more even second half before the decisive moment in the 71st minute when Jack Currie settled the match with a header past Morris in the Gillingham goal.
The second goal took the sting out of Gillingham who continued to huff and puff but the bite they had before the second goal ebbed away and the game thankfully for my blood pressure fizzled out and three points were gathered. The millstone was lifted off the players and hopefully the nervousness of previous season will disappear, and we (the fans) can start enjoying the game we love once again. It is worth noting that we have already achieved 50% of the league wins compared to last season.
I used to score and write about each player, but I will put something in the blog part of these pages instead. I will just mention that one player I used to rate from last season stood static in the Gillingham back line as Jack ran past him to head home the winner. So, my judgement may well be way off after all.
Three points taken and forty-nine to go before we will be statistically safe from relegation and then can start to look upwards rather than down for me. Next up for the Dons and me will be an away game against Hartlepool United.
Player Rating:
[CB #5] Will Nightingale = 8 [CB #15] Alex Pearce = 8 [LWB #26] Jack Currie = 9 [CM #6] George Marsh = 7 [CM #19] Paris Maghoma = 8 [CAM #11] Ethan Chislett = 8 [CF #9] Josh Davison = 8 [CF #10] Ayob Assal = 7
Substitutes :
[CAM #7] Nathan Young-Coombes = 7
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