Bradley on Wimbledon draw
Argyle Women’s FAWNL Southern Premier Division fate will come down to the final game of the season, after drawing 2-2 with AFC Wimbledon at Home Park on Sunday following a last-minute goal.
After leading twice in the game, with goals from Giota Papaioannou and Georgia Wilson, it seemed as though the ball would be in Billericay Town’s court to fight for safety in the final game of the year. However, a 94th-minute headed equaliser from Kelly-Jade Whelan meant the points were shared in the sun.
This now means that Argyle sit in 11th place, in the relegation zone, but level on points with Billericay, who hold a better goal difference by three.
Head Coach James Bradley was torn after the game. Half of his thoughts were filled with disappointment from the last-minute goal, but the other half were filled with pure belief and pride in the way his team performed in front of the Green Army.
“I’m ultra disappointed,” Bradley told Argyle TV. “I don't feel like we got what we deserved. That’s the second time here at Home Park we've drawn games conceding in the 94th, 95th minute, so I’m disappointed.
“I’ve just said to the players, however, we have to dust ourselves down quickly and we've got the last game of the season to play and fight for three points again. That game is going to hurt though. It really is. It's going to hurt the players and the staff. It certainly hurts me.
“I thought we managed the game so well in the last 15-20 minutes. I can't remember them having shots that Lily had to save, but then you just get hit with that sucker punch right at the end and it's deflating.
“There are loads of positives again today and have been from every game I've been involved in. Georgia's goal was absolutely fantastic. It's a great strike. I thought the first half of the press was really good. I thought we were aggressive and won the ball back loads of times. If we could have been a little bit calmer, maybe, in the final third, then we could have got a two-goal lead at some point during the game, which I think if you take into the final part of the game, we win that game.
“Loads of positives, but a massive lesson to learn again. Once we get in that position where we're winning, we've got to be able to see it out.”
The Green Army have been special for Argyle this season, across all teams and in all weather conditions. In the sunny conditions on Sunday, the Beacon Electrical Mayflower Grandstand was packed with those cheering the Greens on, and it is something Bradley admits was special to him and the players.
He said: “I thought they were great. It felt like a proper game out there with an amazing atmosphere and I know it means so much to the team and the staff for the fans to come out and support us. They made loads of noise.
“Thank you so much, Green Army. Next year will be a big season for us and if they can turn up in their numbers like they have done today, all of next season, it’ll be absolutely fantastic.”
