Jolley Saves Dons Against Forest Green

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Wimbledon 1 v Forest Green Rovers 1

Christian Jolley spared the Dons' blushes by netting the equaliser as they drew 1-1 against lowly Forest Green Rovers on Saturday (2 October).

The visitors haven’t won a game since the end of August but threatened to overturn the form book at Kingsmeadow before Jolley’s magnificent curling effort midway through the second period.

The game had started so promisingly for the Dons, as they forced corner after corner in the opening minutes and it looked like it would be only a matter of time before they took the lead.

But after those dominant five minutes for the Dons, Forest Green capitalised on some slack play to break up field and Ben Watson shot home past the despairing Seb Brown to put the visitors 1-0 ahead.

After that, the home side's play became increasingly disjointed and for long periods the visitors looked the more likely to get the game’s second goal, with Reece Styche going close on a handful of occasions and Watson also close to getting his second of the game.

Jolley's goal came in the 68th minute and was one of Wimbledon's few worthwhile attempts on goal during the entire game, as he curled home an effort from the corner of the penalty box.

That sparked the Dons into a brief period of action but, when substitute Rashid Yussuff unselfishly teed up Sammy Moore following a surging run, the goalkeeper blocked both Moore’s effort and Kedwell’s follow-up.

As the game neared its conclusion it was the visitors who again looked the most likely to score with their composed approach play contrasting with Wimbledon’s more frantic approach.

Overall, Wimbledon were left grateful for a point out of a game that they would have hoped to produce three. On Tuesday (5 October) they face a tough visit to Mansfield Town and on Saturday 9 October are away again, to Wrexham.

AFC Wimbledon: Seb Brown, Hatton, Franks, Harris, Blackman, Jackson (Main 58), Sammy Moore, Gregory (Luke Moore 46), Wellard (Yussuff 58), Kedwell, Jolley.
Subs Not Used: Turner, Bush.

Booked: Sammy Moore, Blackman.

Goals: Jolley 68.

Forest Green: Bittner, Hodgkiss, Luke Jones, Caines, McDonald, Flood (Else 73), Watson, Mike Fowler, Lee Fowler (Herring 78), Norwood, Styche (Baldwin 90).
Subs Not Used: Zak Jones, Grimes.

Booked: McDonald.

Goals: Watson 5.

Attendance: 3,204

Referee: John Hopkins (Essex).

Rob Crane

October 3, 2010