The Lowdown on AFC Wimbledon 0 Bromley 1 – The Ravens complete league double at Dons thanks to bizarre error from defender

Wimbledon: Goodman, Ogundere (Hutchinson 82), Johnson, Lewis, Neufville (Sasu 69), Smith (Maycock 69), Reeves, Tilley, Browne, Stevens (Kelly 82), Bugiel (Pigott 69). Subs not used: Ward, Furlong.

Bromley: Smith, Jenkinson, Elerewe, Webster, Mayor, Thompson, Arthurs, Whitely, Congreve, Ilunga (Ifill 65), Cheek (Kabamba 89). Subs not used: Long, Sowunmi, Dennis, Grant, Paul-Lavaly.

Wimbledon had the lion’s share of possession in the first half, but it was Bromley who made the best early chances. Cameron Congreve, Corey Whitely and Michael Cheek worked brilliantly together to progress through the Dons defence, and Ben Thompson really should have given his side the lead when his uncontested shot in the box was saved by Goodman.

The deadlock was broken in the 76th minute when a seemingly harmless ball drifted over Wimbledon’s backline, under no pressure. Joe Lewis got there first with time to spare and tried to marshall the ball back to a nervy Owen Goodman in goal, and their mutual hesitation allowed Whitely to steal the ball, round the goalkeeper and slot it away. The Dons then kicked into action and had Bromley penned in their defensive third for the rest of the match, but stalwart defending from the Ravens made sure they took the three points home with them.

Wimbledon named an unchanged side from the one that secured a point on the road against Colchester last Saturday, with Marcus Browne’s goal in that game enough to secure his starting spot next to Matty Stevens and Omar Bugiel in attack. They played the ball long to Bugiel to knock down to his midfielders, who would then try to work it out wide to get behind a physical Bromley backline.

Bromley made just one change from their loss to Bradford on Tuesday, with Brooklyn Ilunga handed a first start in place of Ashley Charles. Millwall loanee Adam Mayor started as a stop-gap left-back in the absence of Idris Odutayo, despite traditionally being a forward. Bromley abandoned their three centre-backs and instead opted for something closer to a 4-3-3, with Congreve playing off the right wing and Ilunga and Whitely alternating on the left.

Adam Mayor. The Millwall loanee is not a natural left-back, but he looked like one today as he deputised for the absent Odutayo. Typically more comfortable on the wing, he looked truly at home in the defensive line, even when facing down the electric Josh Neufville. Mayor’s composure at the back helped launch several Bromley attacks, and he quickly became instrumental to the counter-attacking style that ended up securing his side the points. An honourable mention has to go to Whitely, whose goal summed up the work ethic and hard yards that he put in on the pitch.

Referee interference. The referee did not make any catastrophic errors, but niggling decisions both ways and a refusal to let either team play advantage slowed the game down considerably. This was of particular frustration to Bromley, who needed those opportunities on the fast break to get at Wimbledon with how they set up tactically.

A bizarre defensive mix-up cost Wimbledon their five-game winning run without conceding at Plough Lane, and more importantly, it cost them points in a tight promotion race. Lewis and Goodman will be gutted after committing the calamitous error at the back. Time seemed to slow as both players urged the other to come and deal with the ball, but time was not a luxury that Whitely was willing to provide. The type of mistake that gets worse every time you see it.

Bromley boss Andy Woodman felt his side were good value for the victory despite the nature of the winning goal.

“The real disappointment was that we did not have a couple more,” said Woodman. “I thought we were good for one or two more goals.”

“We stood up and defended in numbers and got ourselves across the line, so I am delighted with a 1-0 win away here at one of the promotion favourites.”

Dons boss Johnnie Jackson felt differently, and was disappointed that his side could not put the finishing touches on a ‘dominant’ performance.

“It is a game we should not have lost,” said Jackson. “We gifted them a goal and we have not done enough to score at the other end. It is a disappointing day.

“We created enough today, but we have to put the finishing touches on it, we have got enough good players at the top end of the pitch that we should have more goals to show for it.

“We were completely dominant in the game before their goal, and that gave them something to cling to, and they are good at that. It is all on us today unfortunately.”

PICTURES: KEITH GILLARD