AFC Wimbledon 3-0 London Seaward
by George Jones – AFC Wimbledon Women (13/10/22)
Above: AFC Wimbledon celebrate Billie Brooks’ opener against London Seaward at Carshalton Athletic last night. Photo: Glyn Roberts.
AFC Wimbledon continued their fine start to the season with a solid 3-0 win over London Seaward last night which included a stunning 40-yard goal from Ashlee Hincks.
The striker was amongst the scorers yet again as she fired in an astonishing effort with her “weaker” foot from miles out, before following it up with a second in the latter stages. The former top-level striker also bagged an assist for Billie Brooks who netted her first Wimbledon goal.
If that was not impressive enough for the Dons, Faye Baker kept her fourth clean sheet of the season at the other end and Megan Stow returned from injury off the bench for her first appearance of the season.
Coming into the game against a London Seaward side that had shown promise in the early stages of the season, the Dons knew that they would have to be on their game from the off. And it was undoubtedly a match which started in an exciting fashion with both teams having chances inside the opening minutes.
However, as the half went on the hosts began to show their dominance and played some beautiful stuff. It was Brooks who got the first of the evening as she got on the end of a cross from Hincks to head home. Then came the moment of the match from Hincks who scored an early contender for goal of the season as she smashed one in from distance with her left foot to double our lead prior to the break.
The first chance of the second half fell to the visitors who forced Baker into an outstanding save to tip a shot onto the bar. Almost immediately after this, Dons went down the other end with Hincks who got on the end of a Becki Bath cross to get her second of the game and her 11th of the season. This was enough to put the game to bed against a spirited opposition as AFC Wimbledon emerged victorious.
Speaking after the game, Dons head coach Kevin Foster said: “The first half was probably the best I’ve seen since I have been at the club. We moved the ball quickly, we won the ball in transition, we created chances, (and) we created opportunities. We were (also) patient when we needed to be, and that was a complete performance.”
Dons player Ellie Dorey was equally proud of the team’s showing saying: “We all thought it was a really good game. We came out with a lot of energy and kept it up all game. We played some really good football.”
Dons are in fourth place in the tier four FA Women’s National League Division One South-East, nine points behind leaders Hashtag United, but with two games in hand. They now have a free weekend ahead of next Sunday’s FA Cup Third Qualifying Round trip to Queen’s Park Rangers.
Teams: AFC WIMBLEDON: Baker, Russell, Brooks, Highman, Billingham, Mann (Oliver), Donovan, Bath (Stow), Lockett (Sampson), Hincks, Dorey (Gardner).
Scorers: Brooks 20′. Hincks 37′, 54′.
LONDON SEAWARD: Bracelli, Burrows, Butler-Williams, Cannon, Davies, Garwood, Lee, Long, Malik, Pace, Hoteit. Substitutes: Anderson, Lanza, Laudat, Marchant.
Attendance: 103.
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