Derby day delight for the Dons! – News

AFC Wimbledon swept Sutton United aside 3-0 in the South London derby as we took the bragging rights in style.

A largely dominant performance was given the all-important goals it deserved as Ryan Johnson, Harry Pell and James Tilley struck the decisive blows at Gander Green Lane.

It was the least we deserved on a day in which we also struck the woodwork twice as the Sutton goal came under siege.

The result caps off a brilliant week as a whole for the Dons as we continue to rise up the league standings.

Johnnie Jackson named an unchanged side from the 2-0 win in midweek over Colchester United as we sought another positive result on the road.

There was an early opening for Ali Al-Hamadi inside the first few minutes as our striker saw a powerful effort blocked after being sent in down the channel. Lee Brown then took aim from distance with a half volley that flew past the right-hand post.

We then worked the hosts’ keeper for the first time as Tilley saw his effort palmed away by Jack Rose from close range. Al-Hamadi then saw a header somehow stay out before an Omar Bugiel flick worked Rose into another good save.

We had to keep our wits about us at the other end, with Harry Beautyman heading over unopposed following a good cross from Craig Eastmond. Bugiel was continuing to cause his former side problems as he turned well before firing over from distance prior to the half-time break.

It was Sutton who started the stronger of the two sides in the second 45 minutes as Josh Coley saw a shot come back off the post following an initial save by Alex Bass.

An incredible passage of play led to the opening goal of the day. First Tilley and Al-Hamadi saw their efforts remarkably strike the crossbar in the space of just a few seconds before we finally took the lead as Johnson rose highest to head home Tilley’s delightful in-swinging free-kick. The hosts came straight back at us with Bass having to spring full stretch to keep out a low effort.

We doubled our lead as the game headed into the final 10 minutes. Pell, introduced as a substitute barely seconds before, rose highest at the back post to head home a corner with his first touch.

Tilley then put the cherry on the cake as he got in on the act with a trademark strike that flew into the far corner after he cut in from the right wing. It meant that the three points were ours and so were the bragging rights!

AFC Wimbledon: Alex Bass, Lee Brown, Jake Reeves, Ryan Johnson, James Tilley, Ali Al-Hamadi (Josh Davison), Josh Neufville, Armani Little (James Ball), Omar Bugiel (Harry Pell), Joe Lewis, Isaac Ogundere

Attendance: 4,719 (1,296 Dons)

PICS: Stephen Flynn (Pro Sports Images)

https://www.afcwimbledon.co.uk/news/2023/august/derby-day-delight-for-the-dons/