AFC Wimbledon 1-5 Charlton Athletic
by George Jones – AFC Wimbledon.
Above: AFC Wimbledon celebrate after Ashlee Hincks’ strike yesterday. Photo: Emily Topping.
Ashlee Hincks scored the ultimate consolation goal as AFC Wimbledon saw their FA Cup run come to an end at the fourth round stage.
Championship side Charlton Athletic emerged as deserved 5-1 winners on the day, with the two-division gap between the sides proving to be decisive.
The Dons got off to a poor start, falling 2-0 behind inside the first 15 minutes. Charlton’s first came through a tidy bit of play on the edge of the area that was capped by a powerful finish from Frida Ayisi after being fed by Simpkins, before Kiera Skeels headed home a second from a corner.
Up the other end, Hincks forced the visiting keeper Rogers into a good save before Ellie Dorey’s shot went narrowly over the bar. However, it was the visitors who increased their lead as they scored from outside the box from Angela Addison after Wimbledon won an initial header.
The second half saw more of the same as the Addicks’ Beth Roe tucked home a fantastic solo goal for the fourth, before another corner brought about a fifth from Melissa Johnson who finished from close range after a corner.
However, the most memorable goal of the game came for the Dons as Hincks produced yet another stunning effort from inside the centre circle that flew over Rogers’ head in the Charlton goal.
After the game AFC Wimbledon manager, Kevin Foster said: “We always knew it was going to be a tough game. Charlton are a very good side and the quality they posses was there to see today. We gave it our best shot. The best bit about it was that the girls kept on going and got a goal for their efforts.
Ashlee Hincks said: “We are extremely proud, we had a tough game against a Championship side that are flying in that league so it was always going to be difficult. They are full time but I think we gave a good account of ourselves and should be really proud.”
The Dons are back in league action next Sunday as they travel to Actonians.
Teams: AFC WIMBLEDON: Baker, Russell, Brooks, Mann (Taylor), Highman, Plewa (Sampson), Hincks, Donovan (Stow), Bath (Siber) Billingham, Dorey (Lockett).
Scorer: Hincks 81′.
CHARLTON ATHLETIC: Rogers, N’Dow, Johnson, Simpkins, Ayisi, Addison, Skeels, Rutherford, Roe, Henson, Ross. Substitutes: Gray, Soper, Follis, Bruton, Hennessy, Logan, Roche, Bashford, O’Rourke.
Scorers: Ayisi 7′, Skeels 10′, Addison 32′, Roe 55′, Johnson 71′.
Attendance: 238.
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