Report | AFC Wimbledon 1-2 Argyle Women
Argyle Women fought valiantly away to AFC Wimbledon in the FAWNL Southern Premier Division on Sunday and were rewarded with a 96th-minute winner from Charlotte Whitmore.
The Dons took the lead through Dior Knorr’s strike just before the half-hour mark, but a Whitmore double handed the Greens a 2-1 victory and three points at the Cherry Red Records Stadium.
The first of Whitmore’s strikes came before the break, where she latched onto a forward ball and slotted home. As the game neared its end, wave after wave of Argyle attacks fell short and hope seemed to be lost, but a ball into the feet of Whitmore, a flick around the defender and rolled finished into the corner flipped all emotions.
The three points push Argyle out of the relegation zone, two points ahead of Billericay Town below them.
A to-and-fro game ensued from the opening whistle, with both sides creating opportunities in and around each other’s 18-yard boxes. Wimbledon were the first to hit the back of the net, but the goal was ruled out due to an offside earlier in the attacking phase.
Corner after corner was won for the hosts, but Argyle held strong and defended well, until a clash of heads in a challenge forced a defensive change, with Amii Kearley replacing Giota Papaioannou in the 23rd minute.
A few minutes later, Wimbledon took the lead through Knorr, but it seemed to spark life and energy into the youthful Argyle side. Just before the 40th-minute mark, Whitmore equalised and changed the mindset of the Greens heading into the break.
Until the 70th minute, neither side caused problems for the opposite, but after, for the nearly 1,000 fans in attendance, chaos ensued in Argyle’s favour.
Despite winning a foul inside Argyle’s final third, Wimbledon’s Rosie Russell had some choice words for referee Fabio Roque and was shown a yellow card and sent to the sin bin. This seemed to be a key motivator for the Greens, with a flurry of attacking phases following soon after.
Shots from Ava Kukyen, Imy Crawford and Katie Dickson looked to test Rose Kite, in the Wimbledon goal, but all trickled wide of either post.
Argyle continued to pile on the pressure but found a stumbling block with Russell returning to the pitch and solidifying the Dons’ defensive line again. This 11-person display did not last long for Wimbledon, however, with Hannah Mackenzie being sent to the sin bin for dissent after making a potential game-saving challenge on the forward-progressing Georgia Wilson.
Halfway through the six minutes of additional time, Whitmore had a chance in front of goal but was flagged offside. Two minutes later she, and her teammates, were celebrating after securing the three points and back-to-back wins for the first time this season.
Argyle will now look for a third consecutive victory on Sunday, 16 February, away at Oxford United.
Argyle: 1 Lily Felgate, 3 Roxy Thomas, 5 Giota Papaioannou (capt) (4 Amii Kearley, 23), 7 Charlotte Whitmore, 8 Imy Crawford, 10 Georgia Wilson, 15 Georgie Knott (2 Katie Dickson, 79), 16 Ella Stephens, 20 Fern Orchard (17 Lulu Jarvis, 64), 24 Ava Kuyken, 26 Caitlin Smith. Substitutes: 13 Grace Smith, 19 Erin O'Shea, 25 Jess Geach.
Goals: Whitmore 39, 90+6
Booked: Papaioannou 90+8, Orchard 90+8
AFC Wimbledon: 1 Rose Kite, 2 Rosie Russell, 5 Kelly Highman, 6 Hannah Mackenzie, 9 Ashlee Hincks, 10 Ellie Dorey (12 Kau’inohea Soloman-Taylor, 61), 16 Emily Donovan (7 Emma Plewa, 86), 20 Hannah Billingham, 23 Kaylee Buckingham (14 Leanne Bell, 61), 30 Dior Knorr, 35 Georgia Clifford. Substitutes: 19 Kelly-Jade Whelan, Alyssia Mundle, Eduarda Andrade, Maria Andrade.
Goals: Knorr 27
Booked: Russell 74, Mackenzie 90+1
Attendance: 976
Referee: Fabio Roque
Photos: Emily Topping
