Sheffield Wednesday were left cursing their bad luck after a heavily deflected
goal gifted Wimbledon all three points at Hillsborough.
The Owls took an early lead through on-loan striker David Johnson, who returns
to Nottingham Forest tomorrow after a successful four-week stay in South
Yorkshire.
But Dons striker David Connolly equalised right on the stroke of half-time
before Neil Ardley's deflected shot off Marlon Broomes clinched victory.
The London club made a bright start to the game and created an opening in the
first minute.
Ardley played a neat one-two with Kevin Cooper before producing a tame shot
which never really threatened Kevin Pressman.
In the sixth minute Wednesday launched their first raid, initiated by the
impressive Alan Quinn.
The ball was worked back to Craig Armstrong and the former Huddersfield
defender curled over a left-foot cross which had to be scrambled clear.
However, the Owls launched a decisive break forward in the 12th minute. Derek
Geary whipped over a dangerous centre and although Kelvin Davis saved Shefki
Kuqi's close-range shot, Johnson was on hand to smash the ball high into the
net.
Quinn then produced a defence-splitting pass to release Johnson, but the
former Ipswich star blasted an effort high and wide with just Davis to beat.
Wimbledon, to their credit, tried to take the game to Wednesday and Cooper
curled a free-kick just wide in the 28th minute.
Terry Yorath's side suffered a scare in the 33rd minute when Pressman failed
to hold on to Cooper's left-wing cross. But, fortunately for Wednesday, the
experienced goalkeepr was able to atone for his error.
Both sides pushed forward in the closing stages of the first half and Matt
Hamshaw drilled a shot straight at Davis, before Ardley blasted over at the
other end.
However, Connolly's crisp strike from 15 yards left the home fans stunned.
The goal lifted Terry Burton's side and they almost caught the home side out
again at the start of the second.
Agyemang flicked a header into the path of Connolly, but the tricky forward
could not beat the advancing Pressman from the edge of the penalty area.
The pace slowed after a frenetic opening to the half, but it was Wimbledon who
continued to look dangerous around the box.
They were rewarded for their inventive play in the 60th minute - but it did
not come in the usual manner.
Ardley drilled in a shot from 20 yards and the ball took a wicked deflection
off Broomes before spinning into the net.
Yorath immediately introduced Gerald Sibon in the 63rd minute and the Dutch
master almost created an equaliser.
His clever pass played in Steve Haslam and the midfielder's deflected cross
was somehow kept out by Davis.
Wednesday tried for the equaliser but Wimbledon held firm under pressure to
make sure they leave Hillsborough with all three points.
Teams
Sheff Wed: Pressman, Geary, Armstrong, Broomes, Soltvedt, Haslam, McLaren (Donnelly 52), Quinn, Hamshaw (Sibon 62), Kuqi, Johnson (Ekoku 55).
Subs Not Used: Heald, Maddix.
Goals: Johnson 12.
Wimbledon: Davis, Cunningham, Francis, Holloway, Hawkins, Willmott, Andersen, Ardley, Cooper, Connolly (Morgan 80), Agyemang (McAnuff 90).
Subs Not Used: Feuer, Williams, Darlington.
Booked: Holloway, Cooper.
Goals: Connolly 45, Ardley 60.
Att: 18,930
Ref: G Laws (Whitley Bay).
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