Cards Succumb to the Dons

Woking 1 AFC Wimbledon 3
Pre-season friendly
26th July 2014

This was a good workout for both teams on a very hot afternoon. Both sides fielded strong teams for around an hour after which both sides made several changes.

The visitors were the first to show with a corner followed by a lob that bounced on the top of the net.

John Goddard then put Giuseppe Sole through only for a defender to get a toe in as he was about to shoot.

After sixteen minutes Wimbledon went in front. George Francomb made a good run down the right and put in a low cross which found Matt Tubbs totally free at the far post and he made no mistake.

Woking had their fair share of possession and put together a number of good passing moves which saw them reach the edge of the visitors' box on a number of occasions but they were unable to find the net. Theo Lewis, who was given the injured Kevin Betsy’s role, also showed up well down the left.

As the half wore on, Joey Jones had a long range effort which just cleared the bar as the Cards went in search of an equaliser. Lewis then put in a snapshot which was deflected away for a corner, although the referee awarded a goal kick. After forty-three minutes another effort, this time a half-volley from Scott Rendell, was well saved by the visitors' 'keeper James Shea.

With just seconds remaining in the first half, the home side was dealt a blow when a defensive error led to Wimbledon new boy Sean Rigg converting a second goal for the visitors.

Half-time: Woking 0 AFC Wimbledon 2

The league side came out of the blocks quickly at the start of the second half. A good move down the right flank saw Tubbs steal ahead of his defender but his flicked effort was well saved. Dannie Bulman then found himself totally in the clear for Wimbledon but hit the post.

The Cards kept battling, however, and just after the hour mark they were back in the game. The ball was worked across the front of the penalty area, eventually arriving at the feet of Rendell, who beat ex-Card Ross Worner with a shot into the top corner.

With both sides making a number of changes in the last half hour, the game understandably lost much of its early momentum. With minutes remaining, Mark Ricketts was withdrawn from the action. With all of the home substitutions having been used, the visitors sportingly also took a player off.

With the clock running down, Wimbledon made the game safe when Chris Arthur, another new arrival for the Dons, smashed in a third with an excellent twenty yard drive.

Woking: Jake Cole, Adam Newton, Mark Ricketts, Joe McNerney, Joey Jones, Josh Payne, Keiron Murtagh, Scott Rendell, John Goddard, Giuseppe Sole, Theo Lewis

Subs (all used): Aaron Howe, Adam Brice, Reece Beckles, Ebby Nelson-Addy, Dave Fitzpatrick, Xapi, Abdellah Hicham, Ferdinand

AFC Wimbledon: James Shea (Ross Worner), Barry Fuller, Mark Phillips (Sammy Moore), Andy Frampton, Jack Smith (Callum Kennedy), George Francomb (Kevin Sainte-Luce), Harry Pell, Dannie Bulman, Sean Rigg, Adebayo Akinfenwa (Chris Arthur), Matt Tubbs (Ade Azeez)

My MOTM: Difficult to single out one individual with so many substitutions

Attendance: 980