Dons Must Do It Again After Ebbsfleet Cup Stalemate

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Wimbledon 0 v Ebbsfleet 0

Goalkeeper Seb Brown pulled off a string of outstanding saves to keep Wimbledon in the FA Cup as they drew 0-0 against Blue Square Bet South side Ebbsfleet United on Saturday (6 November).

The former Brentford man was in inspired form as the Dons struggled to overcome the harsh first-half sending off of Christian Jolley. The Dons forward was shown a straight red card for a challenge on Craig Stone that most referees would have punished with a yellow card at most.

Although referee Andy Davies evened things up moments later with an equally harsh red card for Ebbsfleet’s Ashley Carew, the Dons struggled to overcome the loss of both Jolley and, in the resultant reshuffle, Ryan Jackson.

Jolley had been heavily involved in the action before then, seeing one darting run and shot blocked by Craig Stone, a Sam Hatton cross sail narrowly over his head, and then his flick from a Hatton header going over.

Seb Brown then had to step up to the plate, producing the first of his saves with an acrobatic dive to thwart Michael West’s driven 30-yard free-kick.

Brown then produced further saves from a tame Ricky Shakes effort and a Carew long-ranger before referee Davies took centre stage with his red card show.

Substitute Sammy Moore had the best chance of the game for the Dons late in the first half, when Andre Blackman’s long ball was flicked through to him just inside the penalty area, but by the time he had dug the ball out from under his feet he produced a tame shot that Preston Edwards easily blocked.

Luke Moore had the best opening of the second half for the Dons but was unable to keep down his header from Sammy Moore’s cross, but it was down to Brown to keep the Dons in the tie with a last-gasp block after Blackman carelessly gave away possession deep in the Dons half.

Wimbledon return to league action with long trips to Altrincham (9 November) and Barrow (13 November) before facing Ebbsfleet in the replay on Tuesday 16 November.

Attendance: 3,219

Wimbledon: Brown, Hatton, Blackman, Gregory, Yakubu, Harris, L. Moore (Nwokeji 75), Yussuff, Kedwell, Jolley, Jackson (S. Moore 40 (Wellard 82)). Subs not used: Main, Turner, Franks.

Sent off: Jolley 38.

Ebbsfleet: Edwards, Stone, Duncan, Carew, Easton, Lorraine, West (Williams 85), Marwa (Howe 73), Willock, Shakes, Phipp. Subs not used: Henry, Pooley, Hagen, Sherlock.

Booked: Carew 9, 41, Easton 42, Willock 56, Marwa 61, Stone 86.

Sent off: Carew 41.

Referee: Andy Davies (Southampton).

Rob Crane

November 6, 2010