The Lions fell to a 1-0 Emirates FA Cup first round loss at AFC Wimbledon’s Plough Lane this afternoon but they more than matched their EFL League One opposition in a tight game, read more in our match report sponsored by BuildADrive.com.
Ollie Palmer’s composed finish just before half-time knocked The Lions out of the competition but AFC Wimbledon will be relieved at avoiding at the very least a replay after Russ O’Neil and Marcus Bignot’s men put in a performance everyone can be proud of.
The first chance of the afternoon fell to Palmer for the hosts but Brad Wade made an excellent save to deny the former Crawley man.
The Lions settled into the game quickly and had a chance of their own to open the scoring through Nicholson’s volley but his effort on the volley went well over the bar.
Jamie Spencer also had a shot on goal but his effort went straight at Nikola Tzanev in the Dons goal, a sign though that his side were not just there to make up the numbers.
Wimbledon were playing some neat passing football with Tzanev key to their play and it nearly paid off when Nesta Guinness-Walker’s dangerous ball found Ben Heneghan in the box but he couldn’t get enough on the cross to open the scoring.
The next chance fell to the hosts and it proved to settle the game as Palmer was found in between two defenders before then taking the ball past Wade and slotting into the empty goal.
It came at a bad time too, with little time to recover in the first half The Lions went in at the break behind.
AFC Wimbledon started the second half on top an claimed a penalty after Ayoub Hasal went to ground in the box but the ref wasn’t moved.
They then pushed for the second but Jake Hull had to clear at the last second to prevent them doubling their lead.
The Lions settled into the second half quickly though and had an excellent opportunity to equalise. A long ball forward found Lebrun Mbeka free in behind the Wimbledon defence but his shot on the half volley went high and wide.
Just moments later Jordan Thewlis had a free kick in a dangerous position just on the edge of the box but his shot sailed into the stand housing the traveling Lions faithful.
With twenty minutes to play The Lions’ pressure was unrelenting and substitute Shaun Tuton and Prince Ekpolo both went close to leveling the scores but Wimbledon defended the danger well.
The final chance of note fell to substitute Jacob Gratton, Tuton held the ball up well and played in the on loan Rotherham United man but his shot went wide and despite seven minutes of added time at the end of the game there was no breakthrough for the battling Lions.
Attendance: 4973 including 340 away fans
Team: 1. Brad Wade, 2. George Cantrill, 3. Brad Nicholson, 4. Prince Ekpolo, 5. Hamza Bencherif (69’ Hollins), 6. Lebrun Mbeka, 7. Jake Hull, 8. Jamie Spencer, 9. Lewis Hey (52’ Gratton), 10. Jordan Thewlis (63’ Tuton) and 11. Regan Hutchinson.
Subs: 12. Ollie Brown, 13. Dec Lambton (GK), 14. Oli Metcalfe, 15. Andy Hollins (69’ Bencherif), 16. Jacob Gratton (52’ Hey), 17. Josh Stones, 18. Bailey Thompson and 19. Shaun Tuton (63’ Thewlis)
