Wrexham Dent Dons' Hopes


Wimbledon 0 v Wrexham 1

The Dons saw their lead at the top of the table cut to just three points as they slumped to a 1-0 defeat against play-off chasing Wrexham at Kingsmeadow on Tuesday (22 February).

While Terry Brown’s men never managed to get out of first gear against the Welsh side, second-placed Crawley were winning – and still have five games in hand.

The Dons will have to massively improve on this performance if they’re to have any hope of remaining ahead of Steve Evans’ big-spending side.

James Mulley’s early ball across the Wrexham box was one of the rare threatening moments in a subdued and scrappy opening period.

Andy Mangan fired into the side netting when well placed, and minutes later it was Steven Gregory who headed narrowly over his own crossbar from close range.

But it was Danny Kedwell who had the best opportunity of the first half when he forced a good save from visiting keeper Chris Maxwell.

Both sides improved after the break, and it was Wrexham defender Curtis Obeng almost fluked an opener after 57 minutes when his cross bounced onto the Wimbledon bar and out again, with Seb Brown beaten.

They got the breakthrough with less then quarter of an hour remaining when they broke from defence at pace and Mathias Pogba was on hand to finish off the move by rounding Brown before slotting home.

Substitute Drewe Broughton’s flick on fell to Kedwell as the Dons sought a late equaliser, but the top scorer was forced wide and could only fire tamely wide as the match petered out to defeat.

The Dons will be looking to bounce as their next two fixtures are against sides struggling at the wrong end of the table. They entertain Altrincham at Kingsmeadow on Saturday (26 February) before travelling to Hayes & Yeading United on Tuesday 1 March.

Attendance: 3,486

Wimbledon: Brown, Hatton, Gwillim, Gregory, Johnson, Stuart, Mulley (Broughton 72), Yussuff, Kedwell, Jolley (Jackson 63), Hudson (Franks 81). Subs not used: Yakubu, Turner.

Booked: Jackson 69.

Wrexham: Maxwell, Obeng, Ashton, Blackburn, Harris, Taylor (Knight-Percival 81), Mangan (Andrews 90), Sinclair, Creighton, Pogba (Cieslewicz 86), Fowler. Subs not used: McMillan, Tolley.

Goalscorer: Pogba 76.

Booked: Obeng 30, Taylor 54, Harris 64, Ashton 87.

Referee: Andy Hendley (West Midlands).

Rob Crane

February 23, 2011