AFC Wimbledon 0-2 Ashford Town (Middx)
by AFC Wimbledon Women (7/9/23)
A disappointing league defeat against fellow Impetus partner club Ashford Town (Middx) saw AFC Wimbledon lose a league fixture for the first time in 374 days.
As Ellie Dorey picked up an injury to her shoulder in the game against QPR, manager Kevin Foster had to make one change to the starting line-up, with Sandra Soares Martins making her first competitive start for the side.
Ashford Town came firing out of the starting blocks, but it was Soares Martins who created the biggest issues on the pitch, continuously finding space between the defenders.
Aside from an offside goal by Soares Martins, Ashlee Hincks had the best chance of the first half when the Ashford keeper was forced to make an excellent save from a free kick.
At the start of the second half, captain Hannah Billingham was allowed lots of space on the left wing, firing off cross after cross into the box, but no Don was able to finish off the move.
10 minutes into the second half, Ashford striker, Impetus sponsored Ashley Cheatley broke through the Dons’ solid defensive line and fired off a volley which left goalkeeper Faye Baker with little chance to reach it.
Being 1-0 down, the Dons piled on the pressure in search of an equaliser. But much to the frustration of the players, they were unable to find their way past the Ashford keeper.
Foster made three changes, with Impetus sponsored Emma Plewa, Chloe Sampson, and Amy Taylor coming on. This gave the Dons additional energy going forward, but the Ashford defence left little room to get through.
With 85 minutes on the clock, Ashford scored a second. Wimbledon were unable to clear a free kick, and the ball was picked up just outside the box where a long-range effort from Brogan Moore eventually found its way into Baker’s top left corner.
After the game, Manager Foster said it was “a frustrating game yesterday as we weren’t at our best. Fair play to Ashford who came with a good game plan and scored two very good goals which made all the difference”
Player of the Match, Ashleigh Goddard, shared her views on the defeat:
“We are disappointed with the result and it’s a feeling we don’t want to feel again. We will reflect on the game, learn from it, and use it as motivation to push forward and improve… we are already looking forward to our cup game on Sunday.”
Next up for AFC Wimbledon Women is a trip to Swindon Town and the County Ground for an FAWNL Cup preliminary round game this Sunday. League action will resume on 17 September, when Chesham United visits the War Memorial Sports Ground in Carshalton.
Teams: AFC WIMBLEDON: Baker, Russell, Brooks, Highman, Ali, Hincks, Gibson, Donovan, Soares Martins, Billingham, Goddard. Substitutes: Mann, Sampson, Plewa, Taylor, Allen.
ASHFORD TOWN (MIDDX): Bishop, Cheatley, Down, Duncan, Durn, Johnson, Kinnane, Leys, Luscombe, Riley, Vigolo. Substitutes: Huse, Moore, Neufville, Shults, Constantine.
Scorers: Cheatley 54′, Moore 87′.
Attendance: 81.
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