Our account of this evening's action in SW17...
After the blistering sunshine earlier on in the day, the Royals’ first match at the ‘new’ Plough Lane actually kicked off just as a light shower began in South London.
Paul Ince’s team began the match the livelier with skipper Andy Yiadom and Tom Ince exchanging passes down the side before the latter set up Ovie Ejaria on the edge of the box, but his shot was dealt with by Dons’ keepers Nathan Broome.
Luke McCormick’s free kick was then headed away by trialist Sam Hutchinson with Royals’ ‘keeper Dean Bouzanis getting his first hands on the ball when he claimed McCormick’s corner.
Jeff Hendrick picked out Saturday’s goal scorer Yakou Meite on the edge of the box but the forward couldn’t get the ball out of his feet before Lucas Joao received a well placed pass from Tom Holmes but he was unable to get a shot away.
Tom Ince then found himself in a good position when bearing down on goal however his effort was blocked by Dons defender Paul Kalambayi.
A cross into the box wasn’t dealt with by the Royals’ backline however Will Nightingale wasted a golden opportunity to break the deadlock with his header going over the bar.
Andy Yiadom gave away a free kick on the edge of the box however McCormick’s effort didn’t trouble Bouzanis as it sailed wide of the post.
Meite then ran into the box and crossed to Femi Azeez in the middle however the midfielder couldn’t get the contact required on his volley on the turn.
Hutchinson then played a ball over the top which was flicked on my Joao into the patch of Meite who beat the defender to the ball and passed the ball into the far corner to give the Royals the lead and the Ivorian his third goal of pre-season.
Joao then almost found the run of Ince in the box however Broome just beat the midfielder to the ball.
McIntyre’s cross intended for Meite was headed away for a corner by Nightingale with Azeez’s corner not initially dealt with as Ince looked for an opening to shoot as the Royals went into half time with the lead.
Half time: AFC Wimbledon 0-1 Reading
Having stopped for the majority of the first 45, the rain came down even harder when the second half commenced however the Royals unperturbed as they passed the ball around and kept possession to the frustration of the players in blue.
Azeez then set Meite but Kalambayi’s block took the sting out the ball with the resulting corner finding the hands of Broome.
Hendrick then picked out Joao, and despite the striker off balance he was still able to get a strong shot away that whistled just wide of the far post as Ince’s team looked to strike first in the second half.
Azeez then whipped in a fierce corner that was well headed away by Royal academy graduate Alex Pearce, who had been introduced at half time.
Pearce was then adjudged to have been brought down unfairly in the box and the Wombles were given the opportunity to equalise from the spot however Zach Robinson’s kick was well saved by Bouzanis before he headed the rebound over!
A mazy run from Ince saw the midfielder one on one with Broome however his strong hand put the ball out for a corner which was headed away.
After keeping possession on the edge of the Dons’ box, Jeff Hendrick teed up a shot that nestled in the left-hand corner as the Royals doubled their lead!
Trialist Yasin El Mhanni Ben was the next to go close when he cut inside but his left footed shot went just wide of Broome’s left-hand post.
The Wombles looked for a way back into the game however substitute Luke Jenkins couldn’t get his header on target before the ball somehow didn’t find it’s way into the goal after being caught in a crowded penalty area.
Despite late pressure the Royals held on for a deserved clean sheet and racked up their third win of pre-season ahead of their final match before the new season against Brighton & Hove Albion back in RG2 on Saturday.
Full time: AFC Wimbledon 0-2 Reading
AFC Wimbledon: Broome (GK), Nightingale (Robinson HT), Kalambayi (Sutcliffe 64’), Gunter (C) (Pearce HT), Ogundere (Currie 64’), Adjei-Hersey (Frimpong 64’), Assal (Bendle HT), McCormick (Chislett HT), Maghoma (Trialist 64’), Trialist (Marsh 64’), Davison (Jenkins HT).
Unused Subs: Tzanev.
Reading: Bouzanis (GK), Hutchinson (T), McIntyre (Clarke 83’), Holmes, Yiadom (C) (Abrefa 76’), Hendrick (Tetek 76’), Ejaria (El Mhanni (T) 76’), Ince (Fornah 76’), Azeez (Guiness-Walker (T) 64’), Meite (Hoilett 64’), Joao (Ehibhatiomhan 76’).
Unused Subs: Lumley (GK).
Scorers: Meite (35’), Hendrick (74’)
ATTENDANCE: 1,434 (691 Away)
