AFC Wimbledon edge local derby in Youth Cup.
AFC Wimbledon 2-1 Sutton United (after extra time)
The FA Youth Cup, sponsored by E.ON
First Round Proper
7.45pm, Thursday 5 November 2009
Kingsmeadow, AFC Wimbledon
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A Callum Dunne header six minutes into extra time won last night’s First Round Proper tie for AFC Wimbledon and earned them a home fixture with AFC Bournemouth in the next round. With firework displays in full flow either side of The Fans’ Stadium, the Dons could thank goalkeeper Jack Turner for keeping them in the game in a feisty 90 minutes of normal time.
Neighbours Sutton were on the back foot in the opening period and nearly went a goal behind after just three minutes, Matt Harmsworth heading skipper Harry Knock’s peach of a free-kick from the left wing against the bar. Another Knock free-kick, this time from the right, was headed a yard over by full-back Jordaan Browne when he had enough room to have done better.
Bajrush Halili looked lively in attack for the visitors, having a couple of left-footers blocked, but the Dons were on top for most of the first half. James Cottee blasted wide on two occasions before the Dons’ pressure finally told with a goal on 37 minutes. Luke Gambin’s corner from the right bobbled around in the goalmouth before Harmsworth turned the ball over the line from very close range.
Sutton came much more into the picture after half-time, with good runs down the flanks and the even livelier Halili looking to get behind the defence. Turner was outstanding in goal, bravely throwing his body around to deny of series of Sutton efforts. One two-fisted punch took him into a collision with visiting centre-forward James Page, the latter being winded and soon having to be substituted.
The Dons held out until the 79th minute. Despite setting up a long ‘wall’, they were beaten by a Robbie Drewett free-kick from a central position 20 yards out. The leaping Turner got his right hand to the ball but the pace of Drewett’s kick took it high into the net. Sutton might well have gone on to win the tie at this point but Turner and a cramp-ravaged Dean McQueen at centre-half, assisted by the rest of an overworked defence, remained committed to keeping the U’s out.
With so much energy having been expended by both sides in the 90 minutes, the extra-time period was more low key. Dunne’s firm downward header at the far post just evaded Harry Bettinson’s dive to put the Dons 2-1 up on 96 minutes and Sutton didn’t quite have enough to make another comeback.
AFC Wimbledon: 1 Jack Turner, 2 Jamie Warren, 3 Jordaan Browne, 4 Rhys Turner, 5 Dean McQueen, 6 Callum Dunne, 7 Jordan Hutchinson, 8 Harry Knock (c), 9 Matt Harmsworth, 10 James Cottee (12 Joe Jackson) (16 Juevan Spencer), 11 Luke Gambin (15 Ethan Pinnock).
Substitutes not used: 13 Sujit Dadar, 14 Sami Bakhit.
Sutton United: 1 Harry Bettinson, 2 Elliot Tomkins, 3 Robbie Drewett, 4 Dan Faulkner, 5 James Young, 6 Lewis Lovelock (16 Elliot Orris), 7 Chris Sessegnon, 8 Josh Gallagher (c), 9 James Page (14 Joe Wornham), 10 Bajrush Halili, 11 Jordan Bird (15 Kien Millington).
Substitutes not used: 12 Lewis Wilson, 13 Oke Fashoro.
Attendance: 209