AFC Wimbledon stay top of the National League Division One South East after win at Actonians
AFC Wimbledon Women extended their advantage at the top of the National League Division One South East after a 3-0 win over Actonians.
A hat-trick from Ashlee Hincks – who has now scored 95 goals and picked up 45 assists in 70 competitive games for the South Londoners – saw Kevin Foster’s side claim all three points.
The Dons controlled the tempo in the early stages of the game, but neither team managed a shot on target in the opening 10 minutes.
Actonians were forced into an early change as one of their players sustained a serious injury, but the opening quarter of the game had little to report.
The Dons were awarded a free-kick, 35 yards out. Ashlee Hincks stood over it, and her shot rattled off the crossbar. The away side came closest to opening the scoring.
An hour into the game, Kevin Foster made two changes. Fran Ali and Sandra Soares Martins came on to replace Steph Mann and Ashleigh Goddard.
Shortly after, Faye Baker was called into action as she cleverly smothered the ball away from the Actonians’ attacker’s feet.
The Dons won a free kick from 40 yards out. Ashlee Hincks stood over it again, and she struck the ball sensationally as it soared past the goalkeeper. 70 minutes in and the Dons had a well-deserved lead, as the score line was Actonians 0-1 AFC Wimbledon Women.
Not long after, Kelly Highman and Emily Donovan made way for Hannah Mackenzie and Lucy Porter, with 15 minutes left on the clock.
With 5 minutes left to play, the Dons made their final substitution as Nicola Gibson entered the field in place of Molly Childerhouse.
Actonians put pressure on the Dons in the final stages, but Faye Baker ensured that the Dons went home with a clean sheet.
As the clock ticked round to full-time, Ashlee Hincks suddenly scored two in quick succession to grab herself a hat-trick!
The second goal was an audacious chip over the goalkeeper, after a lovely through ball from Hannah Billingham.
Her third goal was a composed finish from outside the area, after a loose back-pass from the Actonians goalkeeper.
PICTURE: EMILY TOPPING