Cheltenham Town 2-4 AFC Wimbledon
by George Jones (AFC Wimbledon Women) 26/9/22
Above: AFC Wimbledon hat-trick hero Ashlee Hincks in action at Cheltenham Town yesterday. Photo: Glyn Roberts.
A dominant display got the Dons off to the perfect start in their FAWNL Cup campaign with victory away to higher league opposition with Ashlee Hincks continuing her hot streak in front of goal.
Last season’s top scorer hit the jackpot again with a stunning treble as AFC Wimbledon earned an impressive 4-2 win at Cheltenham Town from the FA Women’s National League Southern Premier on Sunday.
There was an ideal start for the Dons as Ellie Dorey gave them the lead inside the opening five minutes. This set the tone as the visitors set out to dominate the game against a team doing well in a higher division.
However, Cheltenham hit back to level when Izzy Crook’s cross was fired home by Emma Congrave to score against the run of play on the 20-minute mark. However, Wimbledon edged themselves back ahead as Hincks continued her fine form with half an hour gone.
The Dons still needed goalkeeper Lauren Allen to produce a number of fine saves in the final stages of the first half to ensure that they went into the break ahead. The second half started with Cheltenham coming out with a point to prove as they dominated the opening 10 minutes However, the cutting edge came from the Dons once again as Hincks once again showed her finishing prowess with a fine finish.
Cheltenham refused to give up though and Lauren Allen was forced into saves on multiple occasions. On the hour mark, Mia Lockett was taken out inside the penalty area, resulting in Hincks completing her hat-trick from 12 yards. Despite a late consolation goal for Cheltenham as Maisy Collis netted.
This was a dominant display from the Dons, comprehensively defeating a team currently sitting seventh in the division above.
Speaking after the game, Dons coach Andy May said: “It’s a really pleasing result as we came up against a team from a higher level. We tweaked the formation to a 3-5-2, so we’re really happy with the outcome.”
The Dons are back in action on Sunday at The Cherry Red Records Stadium, Plough Lane with a 2.00 pm kick-off against Wymondham Town in the FA Women’s National League Division One South-East.
The AFC Wimbledon online ticket page is selling tickets for that game now with prices at £5 for adults, free for Under-18s.
Teams: CHELTENHAM TOWN: Hannam, Jones, Finch, Barbour-Gresham, Congrave, Taylor, Cook, Asker, Collis, Beck-Esson, Newns. Substitutes: Watson, Fallon, Wathan, Butcher, Nolan.
Scorers: Congrave 18′, Collis 84′.
AFC WIMBLEDON: Allen, Highman, Brooks, Billingham, Sampson, Mann (Oliver), Donovan, Bath, Dorey (Russell), Hincks, Lockett (Gardner).
Scorers: Dorey 5′. Hincks 21′, 54′, pen 60′.
impetusfootball.org 