AFC Wimbledon 1 – 0 Stockport County: Dons win their first game in four
AFC Wimbledon get their first win in four games as they beat fellow playoff hopefuls Stockport County 1-0.
Dons midfielder Harry Pell scored the game’s only goal. A well taken finish early in the second half was enough to separate the two sides.
The home side struggled to create chances in the first half as striker and top scorer this season Josh Davison fed off scraps.
Despite a poor first half, Wimbledon really stepped up the tempo in the second half resulting in the only goal of the game.
Stockport received a controversial penalty in the first half but midfielder Myles Hippolyte could not convert.
The result sees the Dons leapfrog their opponents and climb up the table into tenth place.
The game started as a cagey affair as neither team could gain a sustained period of possession.
Within 10 minutes Stockport were appealing for Wimbledon to be reduced to ten men. Pell appeared to elbow Will Collar challenging for a header, but only a yellow was shown.
The first attempt on goal was a wild shot from distance by Wimbledon’s Armani Little, which sailed over the crossbar.
Not long after, a penalty was given. A long ball was played over the top by the Stockport centre-back and left by Alex Pearce for his goalkeeper. But Nik Tzanev misjudged it and impeded Kyle Knoyle as he was challenging for the ball. After a brief period of hesitation by referee James Oldham, he pointed to the spot.
Midfielder Myles Hippolyte stepped up to take the spot kick but Tzanev sprung down well to his left to save the penalty.
The final action of the half saw Pell’s cross cleared out by the Stockport defence. However, the ball fell at the feet of Davison just to the left of the penalty area who fiercely struck the ball straight at Hinchcliffe.
A feisty first half ended goalless.
The first action of the second half resulted in the opening goal for Wimbledon. Pell collected the ball just before the penalty box and coolly stroked it past the helpless Hinchcliffe.
Not long after, the Dons were strongly pleading for a penalty. Davison was played through and bore down one-on-one with the goalkeeper. The Wimbledon striker cut inside and appeared to be brought down but the referee waved away the appeals.
A hectic start to the second half continued. Davison picked up the ball on the left hand-side and struck a low cross in the direction of Ethan Chislett. But the winger was unable to convert as his shot was just wide of the post.
Wimbledon continued to knock on the door for a second goal. Davison picked up the ball and laid it in the path of Hus Biler. The right-back then cut inside but curled his shot wide of the post.
Stockport then thought they’d equalized. An out-swinging corner was knocked on by Kyle Wooton, which was pounced upon by substitute Paddy Madden who steered it home. However, the assistant raised his flag to signal Madden was offside.
Stockport piled on the pressure towards the end but were unable to create any clear-cut chances.
That brought an end to the game as Wimbledon held on for the victory.
