Woeful AFC Wimbledon Gift Accrington Stanley the Spoils

AFC Wimbledon 0-2 Accrington Stanley

AFC Wimbledon manager Terry Brown admitted his side are in their worst spell in his four-and-a-half years at the club after another dire performance gifted Accrington Stanley their first away win since February.

The Dons never got going in this match, having to wait until the 88th minute for their one and only shot on target, but by that point the game had long since been lost.

Two first-half goals from Accrington exposed Wimbledon’s awful defence yet again, and they were behind with just three minutes on the clock.

Accrington scored from their first attack, with some good build-up play down the left flank easily disposing of left-back Gareth Gwillim and the cross was turned past a static Dons defence by top-scorer Padraig Amond, who nicked the ball past keeper Seb Brown.

Seb’s manager and namesake Terry commented how the goal “visibly drained the confidence out of my side.”

Worse was to come, when, 20 minutes later, the scoreline was doubled with a carbon-copy goal. Dean Winnard this time cut past Gwillim, his cross deftly touched past Brown at his near post by ex-Liverpool trainee Craig Lindfield.

Despite these early setbacks, the Dons failed to get going. Indeed, Accrington’s Luke Joyce had two good chances to add to the scoreline, on both occasions dragging his shots wide.

Towards the end of the half AFC showed a slight improvement, Callum McNaughton heading wide from a Sammy Moore cross, before James Mulley failed to get a toe-poke from close-range which would have certainly tested away keeper Iain Dunbavin.

With Accrington defending a two-goal lead, the second period was largely a drab affair with very few chances.

And where there was excitement, it was predominantly born from Accrington’s creativity, a combination of Brown and McNaughton having to twice repel Jayden Stockley.

With two minutes remaining, Wimbledon sub Brendan Kiernan, who was one of few positives for the home side, saw a shot well parried by Dunbavin for his only save of the match.

But while Wimbledon huffed and puffed with slightly more gusto second-half, they never really looked likely to break down a well organised team. Accrington were comfortable, while the Dons have a testing period ahead.

Terry Brown added: “If we keep playing like that we will be relegated. We don’t want to make too many changes to this team, we want to keep faith with this squad and stay in this league together.

“Accrington have done a really professional job on us today, and as a team we need to bounce back.”

My man of the match: Sammy Moore