The Mowdog On The Road...: AFC WIMBLEDON 2-0 PLYMOUTH ARGYLE: FULL MATCH COVERAGE...

AFC Wimbledon 2-0 Plymouth Argyle

The Match & Aftermath…

As Womble Adebayo Akinfenwa hovered before kick-off, warmed up, gossiped and cast his hugely obtrusive presence along a sideline, one wondered whether he would be the catalyst for a Wimbledon victory. His leaning, swinging gait, almost a swagger and his unashamedly open verbal attitude is a “Byu-ti-full fing” to behold and sure enough, his introduction with around 12 minutes of ‘normal’ time remaining transformed rather a poor, unimaginative game lacking excitement and creativity, before a near 60,000 audience, which had craved entertainment.

AKINFENWA LOOSENS UP...

"ANY PENALTIES, I'M 'AVIN' 'EM..."

Argyle’s defence had struggled earlier against the aerial power of Tom Elliott, which offered half-chances to forward Lyle Taylor but Curtis Nelson and Peter Hartley continued to lack assurance against the punts of goalie Kelle Roos and the refined boot of left defensive back Callum Kennedy right up until Akinfenwa lolled onto the pitch, whereby his back-headers caused more fuss to the Pilgrim defence. It did seem odd that as a ploy, Argyle’s Carl McHugh didn’t drop in to jump with Elliott, leaving Nelson and Hartley free to mop up any loose balls, for McHugh had played in centre-defence in the past, I believe.

BOATENG DOWN...

Sadly for Argyle, their midfielders failed miserably to assert themselves for the most part during this encounter, for the man expected to provide danger from his assists and shots, Graham Carey, was unable to shake off the considerable attentions of Dannie Bulman and the more athletic Jake Reeves, who was prominent for AFC throughout. Only the runs of left-sided offenseman Greg Wylde thrilled the Green Army but his deliveries were scorned by right-sided attacker Jake Jervis, who proved ineffective on the day and the strangely static Jamille Matt, who spent much of the encounter complaining about challenges from behind by the excellent Wimbledon central defenders, Paul Robinson and Darius Charles. More worrying though, was the seeming unwillingness of Matt to run any channels and also, he didn’t seem to react to other situations with any real anticipation. One central attacker for Argyle meant although more possession was claimed by the Greens, their efforts at goal were so rare that Wimbledon looked the more likely scorers, for Reeves shot wide, Argyle’s right defenceman Kelvin Mellor made a couple of sound interceptions to deny the Wombles and goalkeeper Luke McCormick fell left to clutch a shot from distance by Kennedy’s left boot.

McCORMICK: 2 LATE SAVES...

It wasn’t as though Argyle were bereft of ability in midfield, for Hiram Boateng looked lively on occasions but there simply was no killer pass or even a shot of any significance to report, leaving Roos virtually untroubled before the break, then after the interval he escaped a mistimed jump with Jervis and later saved a low and decent Carey free-kick. The desperate introduction of Reuben Reid for Plymouth brought no reward either.

PILGRIM PETE WOULD RATHER BE FLYING OFF ON HOLIDAY...

During this second period, Mellor was dispossessed twice, McHugh too and the carelessness displayed by Argyle led to dissatisfaction from their incredibly loyal fans but with Reeves, Bulman and the more involved Andy Barcham looking bright for the Wombles on occasions, Argyle could not free Carey’s shackles, Boateng became a bit-part player and McHugh foraged too deeply to affect the offense. Wylde’s pace was all Argyle really had to offer and the game drifted on, a little brighter than the opening period but still not a spectacle. Until the introduction of Akinfenwa…

AKINFENWA AWAITS HIS FATE...

Soon, Argyle succumbed when a right-side delivery was nudged beyond McCormick by Taylor, who reached the near-post ball with a right boot, as Mellor appeared to attempt to head the ball away from ankle height. Disaster for the Green Army but delight for the yellow and blues. Another two chances on the counter-attack by Wimbledon were scorned, for McCormick tipped a fine Akinfenwa header over the crossbar and dived low to block a low drive from Wombles’ skipper and right defenseman Barry Fuller, who had run a long way in support of the indefatigable Reeves. Argyle? Reid almost freed Carey for a shot but in truth, little of note was seen of them as an attacking force.

Substitute Adebayo Azeez waltzed inside Argyle replacement Jordon Forster to claim a penalty late in the 7 added minutes, following a lengthy injury break to the proceedings, after Hartley’s back had dropped upon Akinfenwa’s bulky leg. And subsequently the big forward snatched the ball off Kennedy, settled the issue with an easy penalty strike past McCormick, who fell the wrong way and the game was most certainly over.

GOAL! 2-0...

AKINFENWA TAKES THE APPLAUSE...

The similarity between Roos punting to Elliott and ex-Wimbledon ‘keeper Dave Beasant booting the ball onto John Fashanu’s head was striking, bar Elliott’s lack of a bullying streak. Maybe a hybrid Elliott/Akinfenwa would do the trick. Wimbledon won deservedly for they played to their strengths, remained focussed on baulking Matt, denying Carey space and generally remaining resolute in defence, using Taylor as an outlet when breaking. Their players gave all they could. It really was “… a byu-ti-full fing…”

Argyle, their fans would argue, had a flat, passing, Wembley pitch to play on, a chance to excite and attack at will, which might have brought a loss but at least the supporters might have considered that the approach was laudable. Instead, their team could not change its approach, languishing in that stodgy mould, so that the Green Army was offered merely crumbs and left the stadium short-changed. They had travelled a long distance, paid for tickets and transport, memorabilia, programmes, food and drink, only to be rewarded by an abject display. And the team lost playing that way anyhow…

WINNERS...

CAREY & MATT: NEVER REALLY THREATENED...

NELSON GETS HIS TEAM UP...

MILLING AROUND...

And then I saw Ronnie Mauge, walking sadly up some steps to exit the stadium, as the Green Army retreated, quietly, to find their transport home. I stayed to watch the winners enjoy their moments of pleasure. I liked that…

RONNIE MAUGE LEAVES...

TIME TO EAT AT CABANA...

Jake Reeves had walked across to the Argyle fans and applauded them alone because he knew what magnificent support they had afforded a misfiring team. Fair play to him… I retreated to ‘Cabana’ for something to eat before the train was due and there at the table behind me, was Ronnie Mauge… And a couple of beefy acquaintances… You simply couldn’t make it up, but when he left the building, I noticed that Ronnie’s son had left his green blow-up Martian on the seat.