Franks Grabs Two As Dons Go Second


Wimbledon 3 v Cambridge United 0

Young defender Fraser Franks came on at half-time and bagged a brace as Wimbledon leaped back to second place in the Conference with a comfortable 3-0 win against Cambridge United on Wednesday (29 September).

The former Brentford man replaced the injured Ismail Yakubu during the interval and broke the deadlock in the 69th minute. Sam Hatton’s corner was nodded goalwards by Danny Kedwell and Franks’ perfectly timed run saw him arrive to power the ball home for his first goal in senior football.

The second came with just minutes on the clock he struck an impressive 20-year effort that left visiting goalkeeper Simon Brown with no chance.

In between, Christian Jolley got the second, heading home Danny Kedwell’s header back across goal following a cross from the impressive Ryan Jackson.

But it could have been very different if Cambridge United had taken advantage of a good start to the game, with Danny Wright and Rory McAuley both testing Seb Brown in the Dons goal.

But the Dons had chances of their own, with Jolley volleying wide and a Sammy Moore effort hitting the post.

The result would have put the Dons top but for Crawley’s simultaneous 3-1 win over Tamworth. Crawley host Kidderminster on Saturday (2 October), while the Dons entertain lowly Forest Green Rovers.

• Dons trio Seb Brown, Steve Gregory and Sam Hatton have all been named in the England C squad that will travel to Tallinn to play Estonia on Tuesday 12 October.

Attendance: 3,119

AFC Wimbledon: Seb Brown, Hatton, Yakubu (Franks 46), Harris, Blackman (Bush 83), Gregory, Sammy Moore, Wellard (Luke Moore 65), Jackson, Kedwell, Jolley. Subs Not Used: Turner, Main.

Booked: Jolley.

Goals: Franks 69, Jolley 75, Franks 90.

Cambridge Utd: Brown, Roberts, Coulson, Saah, Partridge, Russell, McAuley (Marriott 84), Carden, Willmott, Wright (Clare 71), Gray. Subs Not Used: Naisbitt, Jennings, Ives.

Booked: Partridge, Willmott, Coulson, Saah.

Referee: Andrew Davies (Wales).

Rob Crane

October 3, 2010