Swindon Town 4-2 AFC Wimbledon
by Sophia Axelsson – AFC Wimbledon (11/9/23)
Above: Aerial action as AFC Wimbledon’s Ashlee Hincks rises for a header in the Swindon Town box. Photo: Emily Topping.
It was a tough day at the office for AFC Wimbledon Women, as they exited the League Cup after a defeat to Division One South West side Swindon Town.
The rain lifted just before kick-off at The County Ground, for what was to be a warm and muggy afternoon. The Dons made one change to the starting line-up from Wednesday’s defeat to Ashford Town, with Lauren Allen coming in for Faye Baker.
The first 20 minutes of the game were an even affair, with the Dons pushing forward towards the Swindon box. On 24 minutes, the hosts caught a break and charged down the right wing, with Ellie Strippel ending up in a one-on-one with Allen, finishing off the move by slotting the ball into the bottom-left corner.
The Dons pressed for an equaliser, with much of the battle being in the midfield. 37 minutes in Nicola Gibson received a yellow card and a sin bin, meaning the Dons were playing with 10 until two minutes into extra time. But it was Swindon who doubled the lead, with another well-worked counter-attack, with Annie Colston finding the back of Wimbledon’s net.
With 49 minutes on the clock, the Dons finally made a breakthrough. Sandra Soares Martins and Ashlee Hincks showed some great link-up play on the right. Hincks sent in a cross, which Ashleigh Goddard got on the end of to half the deficit before half-time.
Wimbledon started the second half well, with most of the play being in Swindon’s half, but without any clear chances to speak of. With 53 minutes on the clock, Hincks was given a chance, with a free-kick 40-odd yards out. After some Swindon confusion in the box, the ball found it’s way all the way into the bottom-right corner, and Wimbledon had equalised.
Just before the free-kick was taken, the Dons made their first substitution of the game, with Impetus sponsored Emma Plewa coming on for Soares Martins. Plewa brought another threat and had a chance which was well-saved shortly after coming on.
Wimbledon kept chasing for a winning goal, but again, it was Swindon who took advantage of space on the wing, with Helena Diaz-Butcher finding Strippel once more for their third of the day.
Despite the constant pressure from our side, it just wasn’t to be. The hosts would then go on to score a fourth to put the game to rest.
After the game, manager Kevin Foster said, “We’re not going to get too downbeat – we go again next week in the league, which is the important part!”
AFC Wimbledon Women are back in league action on Sunday 17th September (3pm kick-off), when Chesham United visit Carshalton Athletic’s War Memorial Ground.
Teams: SWINDON TOWN: Hunt, Viveash, Graham, Randall, MacDonald, Colston, Diaz-Butcher, Strippel, Purnell, Haynes, Clifford. Substitutes: McGrogan, Greenslade, Jarvis, Mugford, Hull.
Scorers: Strippel 24′, 77′. Colston 45′, 85′
AFC WIMBLEDON: Allen, Russell, Brooks, Highman, Billingham (Sampson), Ali, Gibson, Donovan (Mann), Goddard (Taylor), Hincks, Soares M (Plewa)
Scorers: Goddard 45+4′. Hincks 53′.
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