Dons Win Last-Gasp Cup Thriller

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Ebbsfleet 2 v Wimbledon 3 (AET)

Sammy Moore was Wimbledon’s last-gasp hero as they snatched FA Cup victory at Ebbsfleet United on Thursday night (18 November).

The Dons looked set to lose this 1st round replay when, deep into injury time at the end of the game, they found themselves trailing 2-1.

But then up popped ex-Dover man Sammy Moore, latching on to the end of Luke Moore’s looping cross to calmly tap the ball home for the equaliser and send the tie into extra time.

And amazingly the midfielder repeated the trick in injury time at the end of extra time. With the prospect of penalties looming large, he sneaked in between tiring Ebbsfleet defenders and held his nerve in a one-on-one with the keeper to slot the ball home and send the visiting supporters into ecstasy.

It was due reward for the Dons who never stopped trying to play their passing game despite finding themselves 2-1 down after just 20 minutes.

The Dons had withstood initial Ebbsfleet pressure and taken the lead after eight minutes, Rashid Yussuff nodding Ryan Jackson’s cross back across goal and Mark Nwokeji heading home to score his first goal for the club.

But minutes later Ebbsfleet were awarded a penalty when Andre Blackman was harshly adjudged to have committed a foul inside the area; Ashley Carew dispatched the spot kick.

And it went from bad to worse for the Dons when Carew got on the scoresheet again after 19 minutes, his shot to the far corner taking a deflection that helped it loop over the scrambling Seb Brown.

Brown then had to be alert to deny Carew his hat-trick, and it wasn’t until the second half that the Dons started to show a touch more composure at the back following the half-time introduction of Brett Johnson.

Danny Kedwell should have scored the equaliser when he tamely put Blackman’s cross over the bar from close range and, as the clock ticked down, the Dons saw a couple of strong shouts for penalties turned down.

So it was that the stage was set up for Sammy Moore’s late, late show.

The Dons now face Stevenage in the 2nd round in a tie that will be played on Saturday 27 November. The game has been made all ticket and will kick-off at 12.50pm to allow live coverage on ITV.

Attendance: 2,306

Ebbsfleet: Edwards, Stone, Duncan, Carew (Howe 81), Easton, Lorraine, West (Williams 104), Marwa, Willock, Shakes (Ginty 117), Phipp. Subs not used: Hagan, Henry, Pooley, Sherlock.

Goalscorer: Carew 12, 19.

Booked: Carew 62, Phipp 90.

Wimbledon: Brown, Hatton, Blackman (Wellard 76), S. Moore, Franks (Johnson 46), Yakubu, Yussuff, Gregory, Kedwell, Nwokeji (L. Moore 79), Jackson. Subs not used: Turner, Main, Harris.

Goalscorers: Nwokeji 8, S. Moore 90, 120.

Booked: S. Moore 10, Kedwell 69, Gregory 77.

Referee: Keith Hill (Hertfordshire).

Rob Crane

November 21, 2010