‘We had Wimbledon on the ropes in the first half, scored and should have had more’
SHELDAN KEAY
ACCRINGTON Stanley recorded their first home victory of the season after a hard-fought victory against AFC Wimbledon at the Wham Stadium.
Goals from Billy Kee and Sean McConville in either half earned the Reds the win, despite Scott Wagstaff pulling one back for Wimbledon.
Boss John Coleman felt the margin of victory should have been wider but that was the only fault on the day.
“We’ve ended up hanging on when we shouldn’t have done,” he told the club’s official website.
“We played really good football in the first half, had Wimbledon on the ropes in the first half, scored and should have had more – it was just our final pass in the final fifteen minutes of the first half wasn’t good enough.
“Give them their due, they came out strongly in the second half and seized the initiative.
“We weathered the storm and went 2-0 up and you think it should be plain sailing. But then they scored what they will feel is a good goal – but we feel should do better defensively. But for the a chance which Mark Hughes headed off the line, I don’t think we had too many scares, it’s just the perception of danger and losing a lead is there.
“We’ve lost 2-1 leads to Wimbledon here on more than one occasion so we were mindful of that, but overall it was a very good performance.
“I think if we’d have got the third goal we might have gone on to score four or five. I thought they all played outstanding.”
Accrington started the match strongly, with Wimbledon goalkeeper Joe McDonnell needed to double their lead on the hour mark. McConville fired at goal from just outside the box, and the ball took a big deflection and ended up in the top corner, with McDonnell rooted to the spot.
It looked like Coleman’s men were on course for a comfortable win, but Wimbledon ensured it would be an interesting end to the match when they netted on 64 minutes. Substitute Wagstaff was the man to get it, rounding off a good solo move when he cut inside and slotted past Stanley goalkeeper Connor Ripley to make it 2-1.
Ripley then had to make a save to deny Jake Jervis, before Mark Hughes headed Joe Pigott’s effort off the line in stoppage time. They proved to be vital moments, as Accring- ton were able to hold on and pick up the 2-1 win.
The victory leaves the Reds in ninth place on 14 points in the League One table, with three wins, five draws and just one defeat from their nine games so