Dons earn emphatic win
The Dons earned their first home victory since 21 September in emphatic style today with a superb double from defender Andy Frampton leading the way.
Frampton scored his third and fourth goals of the season to inspire Wimbledon and late goals from Sammy Moore and Michael Smith earned an excellent 4-0 win.
It was certainly fully deserved for Neal Ardley’s men as they dominated for long spells and apart from a brief spell of Pompey pressure midway through the second-half, there was little to trouble the hosts.
Neal Ardley made two changes from the starting 11 that performed so well against Coventry City with Kaid Mohamed handed an immediate chance to shine once again in a Wimbledon shirt and Ross Worner back in goal for Seb Brown.
Mohamed replaced Luke Moore on the left side and it did not take him long to show the pace and drive that made him such a Wimbledon favourite in his last spell with the club. Mohamed showed Portsmouth left-back Bondz N’Gala a clean pair of heels early on and sent over a teasing cross that just eluded everyone in the box.
minute. The winger latched onto a through ball and when he was sent sprawling in the box by Portsmouth goalkeeper Trevor Carson, referee Rob Smith pointed to the spot. Harry Pell, who had already scored two penalties this season, stepped up confidently, but his penalty was well saved by Carson, who reacted superbly to save Michael Smith's follow-up.ndAnd Mohamed’s influence should have helped put Wimbledon 1-0 up in the 22
minute with the opener. Yet again, Mohamed made an impact as he met Callum Kennedy’s superb cross with an instinctive finish that was palmed away by Carson, but Andy Frampton was in the right place to finish clinically.rdThat failed to change the pattern of this match with Portsmouth having only threatened once in the first half hour when former Wimbledon striker Patrick Agyemang shot straight at Worner after getting on the end of a Danny East cross. The away side suffered a blow not long after when Agyemang had to be withdrawn through injury and he was replaced by Ryan Bird. And Wimbledon’s first-half dominance was rewarded in the 33
A half-time lead was fully deserved for Wimbledon because they controlled the first-half, without being at their best, and had looked solid at the back.
Though Pompey started the second-half brighter, there was little cutting edge and Wimbledon came close to doubling their advantage just before the hour. Pell found Mohamed in space down the left and he sent over a searching cross that Michael Smith was waiting to divert into the net, but Pompey defender Sonny Bradley got there just before him.
Portsmouth began to dominate possession around the hour mark and with a vocal travelling support roaring them on, they twice almost drew level. First, Andy Barcham cut inside and curled a fine effort just wide of the far post. Then speedy forward Barcher came even closer when his powerful drive was parried by Ross Worner and the ball just had enough momentum to drift wide before a Portsmouth player could get on the end of it.
Wimbledon had a decent chance to settle it midway through the first-half when captain Alan Bennett rose highest in the box to meet Sammy Moore’s free-kick, but his header was just over the crossbar. However, the home support never had long to wait for a second and it was achieved in great style too. Frampton, who has been a key addition at the back for Wimbledon, has also proved a very useful asset from set-pieces at the other end and he powered home his fourth goal of the season with a bullet header from Kennedy’s corner.
There was better still to come from Wimbledon as they marched into a 3-0 lead seven minutes from time. Smith’s initial effort was charged down, but the ball fell nicely for Sammy Moore and he struck a superb half volley that left Carson with no chance. The icing on the cake for Wimbledon came in the final minute of normal time when Smith powered home emphatically from just outside the area to make it 4-0 and round-off a great day for Wimbledon.
AFC Wimbledon: Ross Worner, Barry Fuller, Callum Kennedy, Sammy Moore, Andy Frampton, Alan Bennett, Kaid Mohamed (George Francomb), Harry Pell, Michael Smith, Peter Sweeney (Luke Moore), George Porter.