BEN SETTLES WOBBLING WOMBLES..
WIMBLEDON avoided a potential Cup upset as they withstood a strong first-half performance from National League side FC Halifax Town to claim victory and, with it, a place in the next round.
The home side had created several good opportunities to open the scoring before Ben Purrington’s strike just before the break gave Wimbledon the lead.
Cameron King and Josh Staunton had both wasted good opportunities, and Matty Kosylo had struck a post for Halifax before Purrington took advantage of slack defending to rifle home from the edge of the box. His shot took a deflection on its way past Sam Johnson in the home goal.
The half ended with the home side claiming a penalty after Dayle Southwell appeared to be hauled down in the box – the striker was booked for his protestations when nothing was given.
Wimbledon caretaker manager Simon Bassey said: “To be honest the goal before the break made no difference to what I had to say to the lads at half-time. They just hadn’t reached the levels that we expect of them, we were lucky not to be two or threedown, the fact that we turned around a goal to the good was a bonus. We were much better in the second half and that was down to the players being more relaxed.”
After the break the visitors looked a better side and with more possession of the ball, they created more chances.
Anthony Wordsworth fired a free-kick just over and Mitch Pinnock went close on a couple of occasions before Wordsworth put his side two goals to the good. The midfielder stepped inside his man to bend a superb effort beyond Sam Johnson after 73 minutes.
Three minutes later the game was over as a contest as striker Joe Pigott grabbed the goal his hard work deserved.
The forward had been involved in all his side’s best efforts throughout the game and, when he found space in the box, he made sure he didn’t waste the chance, rifling home past Johnson.
The home side rallied briefly with substitute Mekhi McLeod testing Joe McDonnell with a long-range effort and, after 86 minutes, they grabbed a goal from an unlikely source.
Wimbledon striker James Hanson, on as a substitute just moments earlier, headed firmly past McDonnell to give the non-league side a short-lived glimmer of hope. Home manager Jamie Fullarton was full of praise for his side: “I couldn’t ask for more from my players in terms of effort. They gave everything, but just fell short in front of goal. We hope that the lads will learn from today and be better players for it.”
FC HALIFAX TOWN: Johnson 7, Hanson 7, Brown, 7, Clarke 7, Sellers 6, Maher 7, Staunton 7, Preston 7, King 7 (Leacock-McLeod 62, 7) Kosylo 7, Southwell 6 (Edwards 71, 6). Subs not used: Duckworth, Odelusi, Rowley, Skarz. AFC WIMBLEDON: McDonnell 7, Oshilaja 7, Nightingale 7, McDonald 7, Purrington 8, Soars 6 (Trotter 63, 6), Hartigan 7, Wordsworth 8 (Wagstaff 74, 6) Pinnock 7, Pigott 9, Jervis 7 (Hanson 76, 7). Subs not used: King, Watson, Thomas, Burey.