Quickfire Dons Trounce Bury Again
Wimbledon 5 v Bury 1
Wimbledon scored three goals in three first-half minutes as they romped to a comprehensive 5-1 win against Bury on Saturday (19 November) – making it ten goals scored by the Dons against the same opposition in just four days.
On Tuesday night the Dons beat Bury 5-0 in an FA Cup replay, which prompted the Shakers to sack manager David Flitcroft. But the change in management did little to improve their fortunes as the Dons hit five again in this outing, leaving Wimbledon boss Neal Ardley bemused.
‘It has exceeded my expectations,’ he told the club’s official website. ‘I know we are capable of it, because we showed it on Tuesday, but I thought it would be a tight affair.’
The visitors did start more brightly, perhaps motivated by a desire for revenge, and forced James Shea to gather a couple of early crosses as they enjoyed some early possession.
It was Wimbledon who went closest to taking an early lead when Dean Parrett’s free kick forced a save from Ben Williams, but overall the initial exchanges were low key.
But then came Wimbledon’s three goals in as many minutes.
First, Dominic Poleon worked hard down the left to retrieve Tom Elliott’s over-hit cross and square it back into the middle where Chris Whelpdale calmly converted.
Then Poleon capitalised in person as he shrugged off the attentions of Leon Barnett and burst clear, unleashing a vicious dipping shot that was perfectly placed beneath the bar to beat Williams.
And finally a suicidal back pass from the halfway line let Poleon clear and, although Niall Maher got back to block his route to goal, Elliott was left unmarked in the middle and had a simple conversion following Poleon’s pass.
Amazingly the goal glut continued as, just eight minutes later, George Francomb seized the opportunity from the spot after he was tripped by Maher to put the Dons 4-0 ahead.
The visitors did finally have an effort on target and a goal to show for their efforts five minutes before the interval, James Vaughan scoring with a glancing header from Danny Mayor’s cross.
And moments later they hit the post with a low-struck shot that would have made it 4-2 at the interval.
But any vague hopes Bury might have had of mounting an unlikely comeback were extinguished 12 minutes into the second period when Elliott sent a looping cross towards Francomb on the edge of the area and the midfielder had time to chest it down before half-volleying into the back of the net.
With more than half an hour remaining, the only doubt around the game now was how many goals Wimbledon might go on to score, but with victory assured the impetus abated somewhat.
Indeed, although Paul Robinson went close with a header that was cleared off the line, at the other end Shea had to be alert to prevent Maher from reducing the arrears.
Parrett went close with another free kick and substitute Tyrone Barnett forced a save from Williams, but overall it was a slightly anticlimactic finish considering what had gone before.
The Dons travel to Millwall on Tuesday 22 November before entertaining Fleetwood at Kingsmeadow on Saturday 26 November.
Wimbledon: Shea, Fuller, Robertson, Robinson (Nightingale 71), Owens, Francomb, Reeves, Parrett, Whelpdale, Elliott (Barnett 75), Poleon (Taylor 75). Subs not used: Bulman, Beere, McDonnell, Egan.
Goalscorers: Whelpdale 26, Poleon 27, Elliott 28, Francomb 36 (pen), 57.
Booked: Parrett 15.
Bury: Williams, Maher, Barnett, Kay, Leigh, Tutte (Danns 67), Soares, Mellis, Mayor, Hope (Pope 67), Vaughan (Miller 69). Subs not used: Etuhu, Burgess, Rachubka, Bedeau.
Goalscorer: Vaughan 40.
Booked: Maher 25, Barnett 79.
Att: 4,141.
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November 21, 2016
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