Moore Not Enough As Shots Beat Dons

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Wimbledon 1 v Aldershot 2

Sammy Moore's second goal in as many games wasn't enough to propel the Dons to victory as they lost 2-1 at home to Aldershot Town on Saturday (28 January).

The midfielder struck just before the half hour mark, his free-kick taking a deflection off the Aldershot wall to pull the Dons level, but Dean Holdsworth's robust visitors proved more than strong enough to bounce back and take the points.

Despite having gone six games without scoring a goal, Aldershot started this game pushing forward confidently and posing problems for a Wimbledon defence that featured Gavin Hoyte at right-back after his loan signing from Arsenal.

Seb Brown was alert to palm over a Sonny Bradley header following one of a number of early corners for the visitors, but he was picking the ball out of the net after just 13 minutes.

And it was Aldershot's left-back, Anthony Straker, who ended their goal drought, playing a one-two with Guy Madjo, striding into the box and holding off Hoyte's challenge before firing home past Brown.

The Dons then survived a penalty appeal when Danny Hylton went down under Gareth Gwillim's challenge and slowly started coming into the game as they rediscovered the movement in midfield that had seen them to midweek victory against Macclesfield.

Hylton enjoyed particular success threading balls through for Byron Harrison to run on to and it was following one of his passes that the Dons went closest to equalising, Harrison charging into the box but seeing his effort blocked by Darren Jones at the expense of a corner with Jack Midson poised for a tap-in in the middle.

Sammy Moore's equaliser came just before the half-hour when the Dons were awarded a free-kick on the edge of the box after Luke Moore was felled. With Billy Knott also standing over the ball, it was Sammy Moore who stepped up and saw his effort deflect home past Ross Worner.

The Dons continued to press forward as the break approached but goalscoring opportunities were few and far between throughout the game.

In the second period, Midson forced a good save from Worner after winning possession on the edge of the box, but it was the visitors who again took the lead with 70 minutes gone. Hoyte found himself exposed at right-back and was teased by Peter Vincenti. Eventually he released the overlapping Straker whose cross deflected off Sammy Moore and into the back of the net.

The Dons threw striker Jason Prior, a new signing from Bognor Regis who recently had a trial with Newcastle, and he made an immediate impression with his aerial presence.

But he also missed a glorious chance to haul the Dons level again when Worner spilled a Sammy Moore cross, scooping the effort well over from close range with Christian Jolley poised.

On balance Aldershot deserved their win for exploiting the gaps left by Wimbledon in midfield and it was another frustrating afternoon for the home fans. They will be hoping for better luck next weekend as the Dons travel to table-topping Cheltenham.

Attendance: 4,634

Wimbledon: Brown, Hoyte, Gwillim, S. Moore, Mitchel-King, Stuart, Knott, Moncur (Prior 74), Midson, Harrison (Jolley 67), L. Moore (Yussuff 46). Subs not used: McNaughton, Turner.

Goalscorer: S. Moore 28.

Aldershot: Worner, Herd, Straker, Jones, J. Collins, Hylton (Panther 88), Mekki (S. Payne 80), Vincenti, Bradley, J. Payne. Subs not used: Morris, Clement, Brown.

Goalscorer: Straiker 13, 70.

Booked: Herd 86.

By Rob Crane

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January 29, 2012