Games Review
GAME 12
Saturday 25th November 2023 - Kick-Off 3:00pm
League Two
4 (2) Wimbledon v Notts County (2) 0
Reeves 29 (pen) & 86 (pen) Langstaff 62 min,
Al-Hamadi 41 & 90+2 mins Nemane 67 min,
Substitutes:
The Officials:
Unused Subs:
Summary
Possibly one of the best performances I seen from the Dons in ages. To have a side arrive at Plough Lane full of confidence and an obvious quality running through their team to not only be beaten but concede four is something to be proud of. I have to give credit for this result to the manager who seemed to have deployed the perfect tactics for this game and the players were really up for this one.
In terms of the game their was a definite flow to the first half. The away side started with confidence they were clearly happy with the ball and passed around nicely and neatly but for me they had no cutting edge at all in the first half. Bass was not tested at all from my memory. The game fell into a flow of passing around from the way side and clinical route one stuff from the home side. Every challenge on the away team resulted in arms waving and screaming and then a whistle. Which it took about twenty minutes for the official to realise how much he was buying. The biggest thing was when dispossessed the away player would wait for a whistle when it didn’t come, they remained down whilst the game continued around them.
You could guess my surprise when the referee gave us a penalty and my only insight would be it had to be a clear one as he’d given us very little before then. It was about half an hour into the game when I realise that the ref had clued up to their antics when one such incident began the move for the second goal. John Bostock deemed he was fouled and hit the deck play continued as he was disposed of the ball at that time. He stayed down and the game continued, and the Dons got a second. He then got up and limped to the referee waving his arms complaining when the referee walked past him and towards the goal celebrations his limo miraculously vanished and he walked back to the halfway line with no issues at all. To be honest the Dons could have gone into the half-time break in an even position but had to cope with just the two-goal lead.
With my fear growing of playing in front of a big crowd and being ahead at home I could have guessed what was going to happen. As I was desperate to get through the first ten minutes of the second half to feel more secure. Which they did quite well and then in minute 62 it happened, and the away side halved the lead. The Dons looked to fire themselves up again and could have made it four or five before just five minutes after their first the Magpies claimed their second. We were back to square one again and it was anybody’s game now.
Pleasantly surprised it was the dons that retook the initiative and won another penalty in front of the loud home fans behind the goal. Reeves showed the strikers how to score a penalty despatching his second of the game and the dons’ tails were up ready to finish off the game with their second goal of the second half and a comfortable (that wasn’t that comfortable) home win 4-2.
I have to say that not only did the County fans travel in numbers equal to any other away side we have had a plough lane this season for me personally they were the loudest I’ve heard. Full credit to them and I felt a bit sorry for them having travelled that well for the result that we gave them, but I was extremely proud of our boys and their performance at home to a side that I honestly believe will be up there when the season comes to a conclusion.
Whoops nearly forgot that we are still requiring 19 points to be safe this season.
GAME 11
Tuesday 4th November 2023 - Kick-Off 3:00pm
F.A. Cup (1st Round)
5 (2) Wimbledon v Cheltenham Town (0) 1
Al-Hamadi 23 min, Street 76 min,
Tilley 45 & 61 min,
Davison 65 min,
Lemonheigh-Evans 70 min,
Substitutes:
The Officials:
Unused Subs:
Summary
Seeing as my match reports have over time moved away from the match itself and more about my feelings, so let me tell you about my day. Not having to head in the wrong direction to start the day for my son's football training meant we could try a new route to avoid the M25 seemed to be a much better route.
Arriving in Wimbledon I drove through a green light and then reverse back to the red light. Due to a 4x4 heading into the car park with a roof box onto of his roof rack. We all had to reverse back so they didn't smash the entrance and his box. Eventually we got into the car park and walked into town centre we walked straight into the middle of a Palestinian protest a flyer was thrust into my hand and even joined in with the chanting. "Home win now!" is what I think they said - its what I said anyway. Following that we went to the fish shop for some chips. Then onto the ground sitting in completely different seat and a whole new stand to boot. Which made a pleasant change. I decided to use this new zone to walk into the women's toilet and get shouted at. So I left and went in the out door of the men's. No shouting this time.
After the game we headed out to see some poor sod got pushed over just outside which was very sad to see and I hope he was ok. Then I waiting at the lights to cross the road the lights go red and I don't wait for the green man (as a driver) I just walk however the driver of the merc decided to ignore his red light and just speed up. I didn't even notice but I nearly got hit but my son had a much closer call. Getting to the car we headed home and stopping at some lights behind the new bike areas before the lights. Well thats what I thought but apparently this area is for London Taxi's to loop around me and park there ahead of the lights.
We eventually got home so I could write this and eat a pizza and revel in the wonderful 5-1 win against a team from the division above us. Oh yeah we absolutely smashed a League One side FIVE - ONE! Despite a slow start [again] we kicked in after about 15 minutes and basically took the game to the opposition for the whole game. We could have easily taken three or four more in the closing stages but then we concede when the Robins finally tried to attack. Then soon after that they win a penalty which hit the post and come back to the taker who slotted home. Unfortunately that's not allowed and we were given an indirect free kick. Which gave us a great laugh!
Very impressive result today and performance also, after two hideous results and performances. Lets hope this is the spark to kick start better performances and not the slide down the table and the second round draw is tomorrow.
GAME 10
Tuesday 25th October 2023 - Kick-Off 7:45pm
League Two
2 (0) Wimbledon v Accrington Stanley (2) 4
Bugiel 51 & 70 min, Pritchard 5 & 46 min,
Leigh 9 min,
Hills 83 min,
Substitutes:
The Officials:
Unused Subs:
Summary
Well, what a pile of shit that was!! I really wish I was joking when I say we could easily found ourselves four goals down within the first 10 minutes. To best sum up the first half an hour would be to say that there were 11 players out there they clearly had talent but unfortunately, they didn’t have a clue who the other 10 players on their team were. It took until the 31st minute before they realised that they had met before and they finally strung some passes together. The move resulted in the first effort on the away sides goal.
I will have to mention at least one of the missed opportunities they should have taken was after Lewis flicks the ball back to Bass who grabs the ball. Back-pass they shout, and the referee agrees, and a free kick is given 7 yards from the goal-line. As the entire Womble starting eleven complained to the referee, Stanley’s forward ran over puts the ball down and taps it into the open net. Ignoring the indirect rule and thus giving us a goal kick but the referee gave a free kick for some bizarre reason. It stayed 0-0 which didn’t last as two swift goals took the away side into a deserved lead. One screamer and another with piss poor defending. In between those goals was another chance that went begging when unmarked at the back post. For the final part of the first half, we saw the team we knew, and the Wombles were attacking and actually (surprisingly) looking like they may bring this game back.
The manager had been watching the same game as us, thus removing three players at half time and replacing with hopefully some more attacking players. This came crashing down after a whooping minute as we conceded again. Now, I may not be the greatest football coach out there, but I am pretty sure that giving the opposition a three-goal head start is a poor suggestion for any team. One of the subs Omar Bugiel put himself about and got himself booked as well as collecting two goals and dragging us back to touching distance with a 2-3 scoreline.
With the crowd suddenly believing that the comeback was on. The noise increased and everyone was interested. Well, that was until the 83rd minute were Brad Hill ran unmarked to the far post to meet a cross and head into the back of the net and make it 2-4 on the night and many home fans stood and left the building. We (me and ‘the boy’) decided to stick to it and trust we would get something out of the game which we never got close again. It was done and dusted and to tap off a bad evening I was locked in the toilet at a public convenience. Back to the count down and 24 points is still required.
GAME 9
Saturday 14th October 2023 - Kick-Off 3:00pm
League Two
0 (0) Wimbledon v Bradford City (0) 1
Osadebe 62 min,
Substitutes:
The Officials:
Unused Subs:
Summary
This was a strange game more from a review/report point a view, Bradford City was very well organised and really did a number on us. It just felt like we didn't have too much to offer until the second half and typical fashion (in recent years) we came out looking to take the game to the away side and never really creating a devastating chance. Until it presented itself although it appeared and was missed in a blink of an eye. Little blasting over, the ball goes down the other end and we are losing.
Sorry to use my favourite phrase from previous seasons but we huffed and puffed but the away side looked very strong and aided by a weak referee who made some of the weirdest decisions I’ve seen in ages. They had a shout for a penalty first half that we were given a free kick whilst we had an absolute massive shout for a penalty which was just ignored. Again, they raced up the other end and nearly added to the lead.
As a good friend put it, we simply cannot play in a packed Plough Lane, when its full we simply cannot win. It is something I’ve talk about before and no doubt will again, but this place is cursed whether we have a good side or not we cannot get positive result here. Here is the record from this season alone:
Home Away
6 Played 7
1 Won 4
3 Drawn 3
2 Losses 0
If this doesn’t speak volumes as to what the hell is an issue here, then nothing will! I sadly think we will spend the rest of this season looking down with concern rather than up with hope. Which neatly leads me to the updated required points of 26 points to go.
GAME 8
Tuesday 3rd October 2023 - Kick-Off 7:45pm
League Two
0 (0) Harrogate Town v Wimbledon (1) 1
Bugiel 6 min,
Substitutes:
The Officials:
Unused Subs:
Summary
The wombles buoyant after slotting four at home against Tranmere Rovers at the weekend headed far up north to face Harrogate Town. A team that won away to 'them' on the same day. The welcome wasn’t a warm one as the heaven’s opened just before kick-off and the rain kept coming for most of the game. You could have easily predicted how the game begun with a home side still feeling fragile due to their league position and the away side sixth in the table and scoring goals for fun. The away fans sang loud and proud whilst the home fans seemed to be quiet and nervous.
Despite a relatively even beginning to the game the Dons got the breakthrough early in the game in just the 6th minute. Omar Bugiel winning the ball twenty-five yards out and simply drove at the back four followed by a poke from the outside of his boot curled the ball inside the far post giving the away side an early lead.
The Dons remained dominant for the next 15 minutes, closing down any progress the home side were trying to develop and continued to create chances as well. When the home side seemed to finally wake up. Stringing their first set of passes together around the twenty-minute mark. This seemed to breathe confidence into them, and they started to ask questions of the away side creating a couple of chances one of which looked a lot better chance than Alex Bass made it look with his comfortable save.
This came around the 34th minute which then seemed to wake the Dons up again who returned to putting pressure on the home sides back line. Causing back passes that were too short and defensive clearances not actually clearing the ball and the Wombles eventually headed for the half-time cuppers possibly asking themselves why the lead wasn’t more than the single goal.
That said the second half began with the home side looking to create pressure I would guess with the managers words still ringing in their ears. The Dons weathered this early pressure and things were back into a similar pattern of the first half. Dons looking to create chances whilst the home side kept carving out chances on the breaks. With the clock ticking away the Sulphurites found a second wind with twenty minutes remaining and pressure started to build on the away defence again. This was continually broken up and swiftly moved up the other end of the field to leave the final 10 minutes (with 5 minutes injury time) very tense and some hoofed clearances being the exception to a very accomplished away win and another three points.
Which means the current target is down to 26 points and possibly much more importantly it means the Dons are (and say it very quietly) sitting second in the table with one league defeat so far this season.
GAME 7
Saturday 30th September 2023 - Kick-Off 3:00pm
League Two
4 (2) Wimbledon v Tranmere Rovers (1) 1
Little 21 min, Jennings 4 min,
Al-Hamed 32, 62, 88, mins,
Substitutes:
The Officials:
Unused Subs:
Summary
What a different a game makes. In between the last report and this one there has been a very impressive away win at Walsall scoring three and conceding a single goal. Moving onto today the Don’s came out of the traps like a scared and intimidated dachshund as its competitors shot off into the distance. There was no cohesion and I even joked that at half time maybe they should be introduced to each other. The goal came from a corner that was flicked over to the far post when an unmark (or at least poorly) marked Conner Jennings smashed the ball into the roof of the net. To be honest, at the time this goal was completely deserved and also there were some angry voices around me they were aimed at our players.
The gloom descended and the players took 10 maybe 15 minutes to settle into the game and the composure returned from last Saturday they started to build attacks the first shot was nothing to write about but the second shot on target for Dons levelled things up. Great work between Ali Al-Hamed and Amari Little gave Little the space to comfortably pass the ball into the back of the net. A well taken reply that seems to get the focus off leaning on the panic button (from yesteryear) and firmly on the lets a get a grip of this match.
The second came from yet more hard work from Ali-Hamed who created his own space to turn and shoot the ball back on the angle he had just come from into the open net. 2-1 and all the worries of throwing a lead away returned. On this occasion we hadn’t needed to worry as Tranmere Rovers failed to cause any further problems for the Wombles defence for the rest of the game. They did however cause themselves further stress in the 54th minute of the game when Jordan Turnball was given a straight red. After being challenged from behind I think Jordan was annoyed about losing the ball and not being given the foul so lunged in on Ogundere about ankle height and earning himself an early bath.
The contest was realistically concluded in the 62nd minute when Ali Al-Hamed claimed his second after Amari Little returned the favour with Ali and a neat one-two tea-ed Ali up which he had to stretch for but slotted home. Some of the away fans were leaving then and many more were to follow in the 88th minute where Ali Al-Hamed claimed the match ball by scoring a hat-trick and ensuring all three points stayed at Plough Lane a sentence I haven’t said very often. In fact, I believe this could well be the first home hat-trick at the new stadium.
Now, in comparison to the last home game where I was calling for the manager to go followed by 7-2 goal ratio in the following two games should have my words shoved back down my throat. I will address this in the other page as I said I would do so after 10 games. Now to today and I will taper my joy and great praise on the result today. Mainly due to a team that has won two games so far this season and one of those was last week after sacking their manager, so they are scrambling to get results at the moment and after the sending off and the third they gave up and simply went through the motions. For the away fans I would be very worried and concerned not about the ability but the mentality but that is not why I am here. It is to put praise where it is deserved and trust me it is deserved. They kept at it and could have easily settled for a win against a side that had accepted defeat and walked off with a +1 goal difference and 3 points. Instead, they put a shift in till the end and deserved the praise today. The first Wimbledon hat-trick at Plough Lane and what a great day for the club and we as fans are well within our rights to celebrate tonight. Please go and enjoy!
Whoops nearly forgot target now sits at 29 points .
GAME 6
Saturday 16th September 2023 - Kick-Off 3:00pm
League Two
2 (2) Wimbledon v Crewe Alexandra (0) 2
Neufville 30 min, Tabiner 51 min,
Tilley 38 min, Nevitt 90+10 min,
Substitutes:
The Officials:
Unused Subs:
Summary
Well, this is going to be one of those short match reports I sometimes offer up. Mainly because I am so sick of writing the same thing as sadly very little has changed from last season. It would be sad if it isn't just so predictable. Every conversation after the game was the same. 2-0 up at half time and we all knew we were not going to win. Even as the second goal went in I said to a friend two won't be enough to win this. We will need another one and sadly yet again I was write and I was not alone as the whole home end knew we wouldn't win. Now that is the possibly the worst thing about this.
The Dons dominated the first 45 minutes and scored two but could or should of have five or six. For a side in form Crewe offered little in attack but going in at half time two to the good left the home end terrified just like last season. We knew we were capable of throwing this and any other game away. Everyone knew the away side would be probably be taking a bollocking and will come out fighting. The next goal was crucial and it had better not come too early for the away side.
Apparently the whole stadium knew but the home team didn't and was shocked to see Alexandra come out all guns blazing and we were all waiting for exactly what happened in the sixth minute of the new half.
The Dons seemed to weather the rest of this storm and not only that they regain the composure they had in the first half. Wave after wave of attack came back fruitless and again the old trick of no game management appeared as the Dons went for the win. That they already had. This was until the clock ticked past the 80 minute mark and the old ways of someone hitting the panic button and suddenly all the composure had gone and Crewe scored the equaliser. We all knew it didn't we, well the linesman didn't know as his flag was raised and the goal was chalked off for offside.
Still the home side didn't heed the warning and managed to concede another minutes later. There was just minutes left for the Dons to huff and puff for a few minutes without calving out a clear cut chance and then the game was over and the boos could be heard again at fulltime. The current target hasn't moved much as its now sits at 35 points I have already resigned myself to another relegation battle of a season so the quicker we get them points the better for me to be able to relax somewhat.
GAME 5
Saturday 9th September 2023 - Kick-Off 3:00pm
League Two
1 (1) Wimbledon v Stockport County (0) 2
Davison 32 min, Barry 50 min,
Collar 62 min,
Substitutes:
The Officials:
Unused Subs:
Summary
I knew I would at some point this season I would have to review a home defeat I knew we would get there eventually. Sadly this one hurts for many different reasons. Lets just say that on a cold Tuesday night Wimbledon beat a fragile Accrington Stanley side 2-0 that was on the 7th December 2021. That was 641 days ago and since that date Wimbledon have won seven you can count that on your fingers SEVEN home league wins. There have been just two since the 1st of 2023, that is sixteen attempts and we have two wins to show for it. Now I have started this very negatively and we have started this season quite (and I use that correctly) well. I don't think we have set the world on fire but there is so many reason to be an optimistic Womble this season. However, the negative side of me keeps coming to the surface. Which is really down to the feeling I had watching today's game. Firstly I felt the referee was bias in that similar incidents on both sides always went in the oppo's way. I will also add that this feeling came in the first half when we were winning. It just got worst when we did. The feeling of inevitability so swiftly returned and not just sunk in it enveloped the place. The upbeat side from the early games was gone and the run of the mill, shoulder shrug and accept the defeat seem to drown the game. From memory the first free kick Wimbledon won in the final third was in the 89th minute, they got another in the 96th but that was all that I remember. I am going to use a familiar sentence we huffed and puffed but never really looked like scoring. Apparently we had more shots on target than the away side did, I can't remember many shots from us until deep into the game and injury time. #
OK hands up there was potential reasons and excuses that should be highlighted as I briefly talk through the game itself. Considering it was September today was the hottest day of the year so far and just sitting in the shaded stand was uncomfortable so to play in it must of felt horrid. Which was my early thought of the game the team that scores first should win this as the team chasing the game in this weather would really be up against it. The game began pretty much how I would expect, I knew Stockport County were 20th and I also knew that was a false position this early in the season as they were penalties away from Promotion last season and will be up there again this season. I am yet to be convinced that the Wombles will be joining them. With the heat as well it was a battle and one that this blogger felt the referee seemed to give every decision there way.
When the opening goal came I wasn't really ready for it. The Don's had won a corner on their right which was swung in, beating the first defender it went through to Josh Davison with his marker behind him. He had a shot from a few yards out which gave the keeper no time to react and it squirmed undeath him and into the net. County looked shocked and the Don's pushed out their chests and confidence was high. Then half time arrived...
Unfortunately took a twenty five minute break where everyone else only took fifteen minutes. I assume the away side knew the heat would become a factor and took the game by the scruff of the neck. Carving the Don's defence open they were level five minutes into the second period. A nice attack down their right with a beautifully struck cross and Louie Barry found himself free with his marker (Johnson) stood motionless behind him, he struck the ball securely home.
Stockport created and took a quality goal after a flowing move was finished off by Will Collar who smarts finish in the far corner leaving Bass no chance in the Dons goal. The goal seem to stun the away side or give them enough confidence to try and see out the game while it would make panic set in the home side and they eventually turned up in the second half.
It can easily go without saying the equaliser never came and although I hoped with the exception of Tilley hitting the side netting with virtually the last kick of the game we huffed and puffed (sorry but we did) but never scored and No Win Lane is restored again. Side note we haven't won a league game at home this season yet either. The current target is 36 points
See I got through all of that and didn't moan about scoring first and not winning once didn't I!?!
GAME 4
Wednesday 30th August 2023 - Kick-Off 7:45pm
League Cup - 2nd Round
2 (1) Chelsea v Wimbledon (1) 1
Madueke 46 min, (pen) Tilley 19 min (pen),
Fernandez 72 min,
Substitutes:
The Officials:
Unused Subs:
Summary
Here we are at the day after the night before. It has been a very, VERY long time since I came from a Dons game and actually felt proud of my club. I could add it was following a defeat that we returned home with some pride in my club. Ultimately it boiled down to a deflected clearance from the keeper that decided the tie. There was 4,298 Wombles in that ground last night and I don’t think any single person remained silent in that end. We sang loud and proud from kick-off to final whistle, and I personally think that Chelsea knew that they were in a game. Now I am going to admit a couple of things here that I haven’t before and firstly this was the first night that I sang JJ name. I have held off from about January and fallen out with the gaffer and it takes me a long time to change my mind. However, I am a man that will admit his mistakes and I haven’t reach that point yet but the tanker is slowly moving towards that direction. Secondly, I was proud of every aspect of our club last night, the fans were together the team was together and the management were humble and sorry for losing. That takes a lot, and it has changed (well started to) my opinion of where this club is heading. Pleasing me takes a lot after (sorry to say) two and a half years of awful play and terrible decision making at the club I love.
Now after all this gushing I have to give a bit of substance to the game last night. Starting with the cock up of someone (quite possibly me) that meant that me and my son were split between tiers of the upper and lower. Luckily both of mine were on the upper and I took my place in the lower tier alone. Luckily those around me were not only very kind and welcoming but also very loud and it was very easy to join in. In all honesty I think the game went exactly how you would expect this type of encounter. The away minnows were just trying to get a foothold in the game following a wave of blue attacks. The cracks were there as the wombles broke and created chances. Corners and a free kick near the edge of the box. A cross came in and flicked across the hoard of players in the box to find the six foot plus Harry Pell rise to meet the ball. As the ball went in one the opposite direction a fist went in the other resulting in a penalty for the Dons. Hang on a minute what the hell? Yes, a penalty and a chance for the League 2 side to take the lead in a Premierships backyard. Up stepped Tilley who duly took that chance and the Wombles into an 19th minute lead. The away fans went bananas for 26 minutes of sheer enjoyment and panic. The sides were level in injury time of the first half as the referee that seemed determined to give the higher placed club every decision, he possibly could was given that chance when a clumsy challenge from Alex Pearce which to me (on the night) seemed like he took the ball and was off the field of play but a penalty was given. Lucky Chelsea with a Premier League referee gave them the penalty and level the scores. Not being able to hold out to the half time whistle meant the away fans nerves had already gone. Not conceding the match but the countdown to the final whistle was already halted.
The second half settled into a pattern of waves of Chelsea attacks that seem to lack the key to unlocking the Dons stout defence. It also lacked the lustre of determination and changes were made with £100m men coming from the bench to shore up the attack and to finally break down the stubborn defence. However, the Dons weren’t just here for a defence v attack training session as they continued to break out of the final third and attacked the Chelsea defence with the determination to go in on goal with the directness the home side lacked. Ultimately the decisive moment came in the 72nd minute when Alex Bass the heroic Don’s keeper raced out of his box to meet a stray long ball and attempted to hoof it down field. His clearance was blocked (not his error every other report out there) which rebounded luckily for the home side who found themselves with attackers around the penalty area and no keeper between the sticks. As defenders and keeper scrambled to cover back Fernandez passed the ball neatly in the net and the home fans eventually woke up and realised their team was winning.
The home fans satisfied with the lead went back to sleep as the away fans roared on the Dons who were now forced into a more attacking mindset and the game seemed to open up. Chelsea continued to push forward looking to kill the game off and the Wombles broke with the pace of the substitute Ali Al-Hamadi who terrified the Chelsea back four. Many times, creating havoc and drawing fouls and bookings for the defenders with Sánchez forces into diving ahead of corners coming in to get the sympathy of the referee. The clock was against the dons and despite creating many a chance in front of goal the Wombles lacked the composure or the power to fire the ball home and take the tie into penalty.
Losing 2-1, did not deter the singing as it continued down the street and onto the tube platforms, and I hear it continued on some trains as well (Not ours). Before all of that the players came and thanked the fans, and the fans thanked the players efforts in no uncertain terms. I honestly felt pride for the first time since Leyton Orient at home, but this was a small peak which highlights how starved of pleasure this fanbase has been for many years. I said my opinion of JJ is changing and this season is helping with that I also said I would give him 10 league games and we are halfway to that and undefeated so far in that competition. I am impressed so far but I will wait until that point in the season. As we haven’t won at home in the league yet and that could be the crucial decision maker for this.
GAME 3
Saturday 27th August 2023 - Kick-Off 3:00pm
League Two
1 (1) Wimbledon v Forest Green Rovers (0) 1
Ball 35 min, Deeney 75 min,
Substitutes:
The Officials:
Unused Subs:
Summary
My anger for this game kicked off long before the game did. When I stumbled across the official’s name for the game and saw it was the return of Mr Howard. Yes, that Mr Howard from the home Newport County home game last season. I can accept when officials are just plain old bad. He was blatantly bias against us, which at the time seemed to be because we (the players) had somehow upset him and that was it. Not one decision went in our favour. Well, he had appeared to have forgotten that evening however I had not. I predicted that the best outcome from this game we could get would be a draw and I was proven correct.
The game began with the home side in the ascendancy, and it was starting to look like when rather than if the Wombles would take the lead. In typical Wimbledon at Plough Lane fashion, they nearly went behind. The game seemed to change when an injured Jake Reeve’s left the field and was replaced by Jimmy Ball. It seemed to inspire Forest Green Rovers who had soaked up the early pressure and finally looked to attack. It was something they should have tried earlier as when they went forward, they appeared more organised. Their first attack made them look very dangerous after some determined play in the middle of the park FGR worked the ball down their right side getting to the by-line before playing it back to Charlie McCann who hit a curling effort that stuck the foot of the goalpost and rebound too safe.
Wimbledon’s dominance finally paid dividends from a corner which was delivered in by former Forest Green Rover’s player Armani Little who met Jimmy Ball leaping higher than anyone else around him in the penalty area who flicked the ball perfectly over everyone and nestled the ball in the visitor’s net.
Chance after chance was created but nothing went any further than that. A thunder and lightening storm hit Wimbledon and was so heavy that the players looked like they were all stood in a shower. The chances didn’t stop either with one or particular note was as one-million-pound man Ali Al-Hamadi race onto a long goalkeeper clearance, running clear of the back four and one on one with the keeper he hit row J of the seats behind the goal. After missing this and many other chances to go two up the home fans all knew what would happen. It was as agonising as a 90th minute goal as it came in the 75th minute instead.
Troy Deeney sprung the offside trap (OK he looked miles offside to us but hey we didn't have the angle) the official kept his flag down whilst all of the wombles defender and keeper all stopped and waited for the flag that never arrived Troy lobbed the ball over the keeper and two defenders couldn’t hold him off from bundling the ball into the net. 1-1 and fifteen remaining.
The Dons stepped up again and pressed for the winner leaving the door open at the back every so often. The threat was back but without the starting central defenders or the starting full backs the Dons got another point at home, which means we still do not get w's at home (well not in the league anyway) but it also means that for this season the current target is 37 points . Next up is Chelsea in the League Cup and maybe that was half on their minds whilst this game was going on.
GAME 2
Tuesday 15th August 2023 - Kick-Off 3:00pm
League Two
0 (0) Colchester United v Wimbledon (0) 2
Tilley 54, 85 min
Substitutes:
The Officials:
Unused Subs:
Summary
The wombles returned to the location of their last away win back in December 2022 namely Colchester to face Colchester United. The side they beat 2-1 last season with a dramatic last-minute winner. With a very different teams how would the two face up to United home league opener. Expecting a power surge from the home side as their league season kicked off didn’t really materialise. I would describe the pattern of the game was a wave of wombles pressure and I cannot work out how one of those chances were not taken. Whilst the home side would break at pace and carved out the better chances of the half. Included a one on one between Akinde and Bass with a desperate Lee Brown trying to get back to prevent the opening goal. It wasn’t needed as Alex Bass stayed upright and blocked the effort for a corner. This was not alone as breaks and chances were created in between the build-up of pressure on the home defence. In fact, the home side had a shot beating Bass all ends up on to see it hit the outside of the post and out for a goal kick. My half time assessment was that we were the dominant side (just), but the home side had the better chances. It was a case of looking forward to the second half.
I was wrong as the second half began the way I thought the first half would have, with the home side grabbing the game by the scruff of the neck and looking to press home field advantage and created the better threat of the two teams. I say threat as they didn’t really calve out, what I would call a clear-cut opening. The game moved into a nip and tuck situation as both side put together periods of pressure followed by the opposition returning the favour. Putting my bias hat on the Dons looked composed at the back and never flustered compared to recent seasons. Conversation within our group began of talk of making a change as Josh Neufville was not performing as well as previous games. He was working hard but simply not having the impact of the last game. Cue a great run down the Dons left and a low cross which beat everyone at the near post. Picking out the marauding James Tilley who used all the space to slot the ball into the net. The away fans went into raptures. The Dons were actually winning away!
More strangeness was to follow as the pattern of the game didn’t change. Composed defending and chances on the break falling for each side. The next goal strangely looked more for the away side rather than the home side who began to huff and puff like the Dons in recent seasons. The Wombles boss changed the front line with Ali and Omar removed and Josh Davison and Harry Pell replacing them. Both of those characters can cause havoc in opposition defensive lines, and this proved true tonight not necessarily creating lots of chances (although Davison did have a firm shot comfortably saved by Owen Goodman in the U’s goal) but disrupting play and causing confusion and havoc in their wake.
Things improved even more when Neufville picked out Tilley with a sublime pass which got exactly what it deserved as Tilley took it into the box and beat the keeper’s right hand and into the side netting of the goal. 0-2 up away from home and my personal feeling was job done. Get the coat we are not going to throw this away. A feeling I have not had in over 2 seasons of watching this lot. (it was quite surreal) However this feeling was to be briefly shattered as a looping header beat Bass and nestled in the away sides net. The heart fluttered a brief second before the referee’s whistle cancelled out the goal and possible any thought of a comeback.
Neufville did hit the underside of the bar in injury time when he probably deserved a goal for his second half display alone. It wasn’t to be for him, but it was to be for the away team and more so the 695 fans in the away end who had to wait 230 days to see Wimbledon win an Away league game. Yes, it was so worth the trip. That sentence was severely tested with a journey home that saw us head completely the wrong direction to join the A12 which saw the junction closed. We managed to get on the A12 only to be chucked off which meant travelling into the centre of Colchester. To find our way back out again. Following but not one, not two, not even three but eight road closed that we were trying to travel on to get home. A journey that would eventually see us home after 12:30am and some very stressed passengers. I will answer the question again was it worth it? Hell, yeah what a great performance and result. I struggle to remember such a complete performance away from home for a long, long time. And onwards to Sutton United for the boys but probably not me until the away game against Chelsea in the League Cup. Wh-oops I nearly forgot the count as we are now 41 points away.
GAME 1
Saturday 12th August 2023 - Kick-Off 3:00pm
League Two
1 (0) Wimbledon v Wrexham (1) 1
Al-Hamadi missed pen 65 min, Lee 22 min,
Tilley 81 min (pen)
Substitutes:
The Officials:
Unused Subs:
Summary
The first home league game of the season saw the Hollywood glamour team of Wrexham AFC to Plough Lane. It also saw my first game of the season that I could attend. Or you could change all of that into the money bags club to face a club that can lose any fixture from any position. I was told that there was a different feel around the place and this was my first chance to see if I got the same feeling. The game kicked off and for the first fifteen minutes I was very impressed we dominated possession and actually looked like we could create a threat when going forward. After the quarter hour mark the away side took a grip of the game and the Wombles had to weather a bit of a storm. That storm came to a head when the away side took the lead. A ball was played out to Jacob Mendy on their left (he looked offside to me but I didn't have the angle to be sure). He took it to the touch line and passed it back to Elliott Lee on the edge of the box his low shot hit two sliding in central defenders and looped up over the stranded Bass laid on his back, despite stretching his arms he couldn't reach the ball as it looped over him and into the back of the net. 0-1. The rest of the half was much more even but we reached half time with the score-line remaining.
The start of the second half felt the same as the first, however this time the wave of pressure continued and built until for me there was two challenges in the penalty area which at least one of them was spotted by the referee and a penalty was given. Ali Al-Hamed stepped up to take his second penalty of the season. This one was almost identical to the first weak and close to the keeper who saved it with ease. You could see that Ali took this badly and was very frustrated. However the pressure and the chances continued until a high ball into the box resulted in an obvious push by the defender into the back of the attacker and Wimbledon was presented with a second penalty. The on-field leaders decided to change the taker and James Tilley stepped up and blasted the ball into the roof of the net. At exactly the same time the roof came off the frustration and Plough Lane was bouncing. Let's stay on the throttle and we are odds on to win this.
Then the wheels came off and suddenly it was end to end again. Miss of the season happened as Wrexham should have taken the lead again in injury time. The game was truly end to end and each with both set of fans were trying the suck the ball into the net. Neither was successful and 9 minutes of injury time was concluded without any further scoring a draw and potentially both sides were pleased with a point as it could have been so much worse or even better.
Two games in and we are undefeated or you could equally argue that we haven't won a game in the league. It does feel different at the moment and the side looks like they can win matches the fact that they haven't yet means that this season could go either way its on a knife edge as to how this will proceed. I've said it before and no doubt say it again but time will tell. As for the count we are now 44 points away.
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