Away-Day Blues As Dons Fail To Win Again
Bury 2 v Wimbledon 0
Wimbledon ended their away league campaign without a win in 2015 as they slumped to a 2-0 defeat at Bury on Saturday (25 April).
The Dons failed to win on the road after chalking up a 2-0 win at Portsmouth on Boxing Day, form that helped contribute to lower-midtable finish following the departure of Matt Tubbs amongst others.
And manager Neal Ardley told the club’s website after this latest defeat: ‘We do not have enough of the key ingredients to win matches.
‘We have lost players with those qualities and I have to take responsibility. I have got to add that determination and grit and put together a team capable of being in the promotion race next season.’
The Dons were a match for their promotion-chasing hosts in this match but went in at half-time with a 1-0 deficit.
George Francomb fashioned the first chance of note, picking out Sean Rigg who saw his effort saved by Bury keeper Nick Pope.
Jack Smith then combined with Bayo Akinfenwa to set up Rigg again, but the former Oxford man again saw Pope foil his attempt.
But Bury went ahead on the 37th minute when a corner by former Wimbledon man Chris Hussey was headed in at the near post by Tom Soares to put his side 1-0 in front.
Pope was again called into action after being tested yet again by Rigg and additionally by Francomb, but Bury also went close to a further goal before the interval as Daniel Nardiello beat the offside trip and beat James Shea with a lob, only to see the ball hit the post.
The second period continued in much the same manner, with Deji Oshilaja hearding over a Francomb corner and Rigg volleying narrowly wide.
After Nardiello again went close, the Dons were denied a penalty when substitute Craig Tanner was spent sprawling.
And minutes later the hosts were 2-0 up, with Dannie Bulman’s pass being intercepted and Ryan Lowe making no mistake from close range.
Wimbledon’s form slumped after that and, although Rigg had a final effort of the afternoon, there was never much prospect of the Dons hauling in a two-goal deficit.
Ardley will be hoping for better luck when the Dons round off their campaign by hosting already-relegated Cheltenham Town at Kingsmeadow on Saturday (2 May).
Bury: Pope, Jones, El-Abd, Cameron, Hussey, Etuhu (Sedgwick 45), Riley (Adams 67), Soares, Hope (Lowe 59), Tutte, Nadiello. Subs not used: Rose, O’Brien, Lainton, Dudley.
Goalscorers: Soares 33, Lowe 77.
Wimbledon: Shea, Fuller, Oshilaja, Goodman, Smith (Potter 71), Francomb, Reeves, Bulman, Rigg, Azeez (Tanner 65), Akinfenwa. Subs not used: Worner, Beere, Fitzpatrick, Sweeney, Gallagher.
Booked: Smith 27, Reeves 80.
Att: 4,099.
By Rob Crane
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April 26, 2015
