Wycombe win at AFC Wimbledon

Wycombe Wanderers started their pre-season campaign with a 1-0 win over AFC Wimbledon thanks to a Matt Harrold goal after 76 minutes.


The Chairboys used 22 different players this afternoon including 5 trialists. Three of the trialists were named as Carl Cort, Ian Westlake and Callum Willock, while the other two remained anonymous.

First Half Line-Up

Shearer

Moncur Oliver Johnson Cobb

Daly Doherty Westlake Phillips

Cort Willock


Wycombe had the better of the first half.

After only 5 minutes Willock’s persistence in chasing a back-pass almost paid off when the hesitant Wimbledon keeper lost possession and was only saved from further embarrassment by the referee’s whistle.

The midfield battle was being won by the imperious Tommy Doherty playing alongside trialist Ian Westlake who also looked comfortable in possession of the ball.

The impressive George Daly was seeing a lot of the ball on the right wing and following a neat move after 14 minutes he cut-back a lovely pass into the path of Carl Cort who swung a leg but missed the ball completely. The loose ball ran to Callum Willock but his shot cleared the crossbar.

After 25 minutes a neat passing move from the Chairboys culminated in a Matt Phillips effort being narrowly deflected for a corner.

It was Phillips again who had a shot turned round the post by keeper Seb Brown after 35 minutes.

Trialist Ian Westlake, who had seen an earlier volley go wide, let fly with a ferocious shot after 40 minutes which the keeper did well to turn over the crossbar.

The resulting corner saw Brown make another fine save from Carl Cort’s header.

Wycombe’s corners had troubled the home side throughout the first half with Luke Oliver, Leon Johnson and Cort all getting their heads to Phillips’ excellent deliveries but without reward.


Second Half Line-Up

Young

Moncur Duberry Trialist (number26) Trialist (number19)

Zebroski Montrose Mousinho Beavon

Harrold Pittman

Sub: Fitchett for Moncur after 77 minutes.


AFC Wimbledon had several chances to take the lead in a far more evenly balanced second half, during which the Chairboys didn’t exert the same control in midfield and had a lot more defending to do.

Jon Main was the liveliest Womble and he pulled one shot wide of the post before Jamie Young thwarted him on several more occasions throughout the second 45 minutes.

Trialist (number 19), playing at left back, was being given a torrid time and the home side had what looked like a reasonable penalty shout when he appeared to scythe down Main just after the hour-mark.

For Wycombe, Lewis Montrose dropped his shoulder and beat his man with a neat body swerve before firing a shot wide of the post after 50 minutes.

JP Pittman looked as lively as ever and Matt Harrold was proving a handful for the Wimbledon defence and holding the ball-up well.

Chris Zebroski showed good skill to leave his marker standing after 75 minutes but his teasing cross was well defended just before Harrold could apply the finishing touch.

The winning goal came a minute later when a long ball from Lewis Montrose found Harrold in an onside position just inside the Wimbledon half. It was a straight race between Harrold and the Wombles’ keeper and despite appearing to hesitate for a moment, the striker got there just in time to take it round the goalie and slot it into the empty net.


Summary

Shearer – Nothing to do.

Moncur – Overlapped well but his crosses were dire.

Johnson – Solid as ever.

Oliver – Solid and dangerous at corners.

Cobb – Impressive going forward but not tested defensively.

Daly – Very tidy performance. Looked good.

Doherty – Best player on view.

Westlake – Comfortable in possession and not afraid to shoot.

Phillips – Looked dangerous in spells.

Cort – No better than Harrold on today’s performance.

Willock – Worked hard.

Young – Made a couple of good saves.

Duberry – Solid.

Trialist (number 26) – Defended well and passed well.

Trialist (number 19) – Looks a bit raw.

Zebroski – Hot and Cold.

Mousinho – Average, didn’t get hold of midfield.

Montrose – Showed glimpses of class.

Beavon – Tidy but unspectacular.

Pittman – Lively.

Harrold – The usual handful.

Fitchett – Not enough time to make his mark.