Dons go top of the National League Division One South East after victory at Cambridge

BY GEORGE JONES

AFC Wimbledon Women went top of the National League Division One South East after a 3-2 win at Cambridge United on Sunday. 

Despite missing several key players through injury, the Dons overcame the adversity to come from behind and rally to beat a strong Cambridge side.

The Dons went into the game without Ashlee Hincks, Faye Baker and Billie Brooks, who all missed out through injury. 

With the Dons utilising a makeshift back four in front of Lauren Allen, with Hannah Billingham playing at centre-back and Chloe Sampson at left-back. 

Wimbledon got off to the worst possible start, as the hosts took the lead after just 7 minutes. As the half went on, Wimbledon grew into the game and created chances. 

Becki Bath forced the keeper into several fine saves from long-range efforts, and a curling effort from Chloe Sampson produced an outstanding save. 

With 10 minutes left of the first half, Kelly Highman got on the end of an Ellie Dorey cross to level the game. 

In the last minutes of the opening 45, Wimbledon took the lead for the first time as a long-range effort from Becki Bath flew past the keeper. 

However, there was more action to come in the first half, as in the third minute of injury time when Cambridge levelled it with a long-range effort of their own.

The Dons were much improved in the second half and set about looking to create opportunities to take the lead. 

Wimbledon had several penalty appeals turned down after Gloria Siber was brought down on multiple occasions inside the penalty area. 

However, it would take less than 10 second-half minutes for the Dons to retake the lead as Dorey got on the end of an Emma Plewa cross.

Wimbledon then set about closing out the win in a professional manner whilst still looking to add to the score, but the game ended 3-2 to the Dons. 

With title rivals Hashtag United having their game postponed, the win takes the Dons top of the 4th tier of Women’s football.

After the game, Kelly Highman said: “It’s a really important 3 points for us, to put us in good stead to compete at the top of the table, but it was a hard game.”

First-team coach Andy May said: “It was a game of two halves. To be fair to Cambridge, they had a really good game plan that took us 15 minutes to get to grips with. A real difference in the two halves. The second half was more us – controlling the game, dominating possession and looking dangerous going forward.”

Pic Credit: Sophia Axelsson