Wednesday 17 July 2019

Wilson and Fraser's finishing sees off Dons 3-2

AFC Bournemouth took on AFC Wimbledon in La Manga last night. It was the Callum Wilson show first half with two well crafted goals for the Bournemouth striker, the second being truly magnificent as he lobbed the keeper. Ramsdale also made a good save in the first half to keep the clean sheet. A second-half change of team brought fresh legs to the game. But Bournemouth started to make mistakes. Gosling gave away a penalty and then a handball gave Wimbledon the chance to make it 2-2 from the spot which they did. It was left to Ryan Fraser to get the Cherries out of their predicament against a Wimbledon side that were stronger in the second half. Supremacy regained, there were not so many scares as the game came to a close.
Wilson is in goal hungry form.
The Cherries settled into the game in the first five minutes, passing and moving well and Kelly put in the first meaningful cross on two minutes which Wimbledon's keeper held on to. Wilson and Solanke found each other quickly up front and the team looked fairly fluent in possession. 

Wimbledon did get forward town the right and Connolly put in a cross that was headed wide by Roscrow on four minutes. Wilson got past the keeper on six minutes but couldn't get his shot on target having been forced wide.

It was Bournemouth doing the chasing after nine minutes as Wimbledon got into a groove. Adam Smith had a couple of difficult moments getting caught out at right-back. Mepham looked good coming forward and he found Solanke who drove a shot on target from just outside the box on 13 minutes which the keeper saved low in front of him.

There was probably a bit more coaching than normal form the sidelines. It took Wilson until the 15th minute to break through off a David Brooks pass and round the keeper to put AFCB 1-0 up.

Arter's passing started to find some gaps - he was wearing number 88 - double as good as usual! Brooks put in a super low cross on 19 minutes but it didn't find an AFCB foot on the six yard line. Dobre put a cross in for Solanke on 21 minutes but the ball didn't drop fast and Solanke just volleyed into a defender. Dobre then tried himself from distance but shot wide of the target.

Wilson got free again on 24 minutes and put a cultured chip into the top left corner of the goal to make it 2-0. That was just too classy for  Wimbledon and wouldn't have looked out of place on the international stage! Quality finishing.

After half an hour the players had a two minute water break before getting on with the game. Kelly got down the left and tried to get Wilson in at the near post but there was no space for Wilson to complete a hat-trick. 

The game was slowing down and getting a bit ragged after 38 minutes. Passes were going astray from both teams. David Brooks hadn't had many touches but was doing the work in his own half well.

Wimbledon's Rudoni got in down the right but Ramsdale made a smart save from his cross. Arter was doing an exceptional amount of running, but Wimbledon were forcing the play close to half-time.


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Second half
AFCB's second group of players took to the field. Gosling made a hash of control from a throw pulling his man down (Folivi) and game away a penalty. Wimbledon's Folivi scored form the spot against Begovic.

Fraser burst through the Don's defence after working with Ibe, but dragged his shot wide on 49 minutes. Wimbledon had a second penalty when a cross came off Stacey's hand. The penalty as calmly scored by Wimbledon's top scorer Joe Pigott 2-2.

Bournemouth are pressing again as we go into the 55th minute. Fraser wins a free kick on the edge of the box and looks to take the free kick himself.  The keeper makes a sharp save to his right.

Wagstaff pulls the ball back and a shot comes in from Wordsworth that Begovic is behind. Ibe put in a fast cross that Surridge could not got on the end of. King made Surridge another chance seconds later, but it was hit straight at the keeper with an hour gone.

A good move by Folivi left the ball in Pigott's path and his shot went wide off the right post. It was a warning that the Dons fancied their chances of a win.

Bournemouth were finding it harder to play out from the back. But Gosling had a snap shot after some controlled play around the box that the keeper fell on to his left. 

A good run almost saw Wimbledon take the lead but the ball ran along the six yard line with no finishing touch on 74 minutes.

Bournemouth strike again with Ryan Fraser slipping the ball  under the keeper having taken a long ball from Aké to make it 3-2. There's been no water break this half and some players are starting to blow a bit.

The Cherries are trying to control the game now in the last 10 minutes. Wimbledon are having none of it through and are winning possession back. Pigott tries a shot on the turn, but it's right at Begovic. There are some tired legs out there. Gosling makes a good block.

The Dons have a free kick but Pigott heads wide. Fraser stays down after a strong challenge. He gets up eventually. That's it 3-2 to AFCB.

Summary
There is a lot for Eddie Howe to ponder after that 90 minutes. AFCB had the game under control until the second half. Wilson's goal power is something the team will rely on but with him and Fraser doing the damage you wonder who else is going to step up and get some goals- King and Brooks were fairly quiet. While the penalties could have ending up costing the Cherries the game, they team fought hard and got the vital goal from Fraser in the end. The fitness levels will improve, but AFCB don't yet show a sign of being more solid in defence. But it's early days and not all the players were available.

AFCB 
Ramsdale 12, Smith 15, Mepham 33,  Simpson 25, Kelly 26, Brooks 20, Ofoborh 38, Arter 88,  Dobre 54, Solanke 29, Wilson 13 (C)

AFCB Second half
Begovic,  17 Stacey, Aké 5, Rico 21,  Cordner 25, 4 Gosling, Ibe 10, King 7, Butcher 36 , Fraser 24, Surridge 44. Kilkenny


AFC Wimbledon
Nik Tzanev, Kyron Stabana, Terell Thomas, Rod McDonald, Nesta Guinness-Walker, Dylan Connolly, Anthony Hartigan, Jack Rudoni, Mitch Pinnock, Adam Roscrow, Kwesi Appiah

AFC Wimbledon Second half
Nathan Trott, Will Nightingale, Paul Kalambayi, Anthony Wordsworth, Luke O’Neill, Scott Wagstaff, Shane McLoughlin, Joe Pigott, Michael Folivi.

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