Gillingham crashed out of the FA youth cup at the 2nd round stage as they fell to their stronger and taller opponents from south London.
Second half goals from Neset Bellikl and Ben Harrison sealed the tie either side of a Greg Cundle equaliser for the home side as Wimbledon progressed to play Premier league Burnley in the 3rd round.
In a first half of very little in terms of quality but high on endeavour, It was Wimbledon who were the first to create. Strong play from Dan Agyei in the inside left channel eventually led to the striker breaking through 3 tackles and crossing from the byline to Reece Williams-Bowers 6 yards out who somehow contrived to miss the target all together when it would have been easier to score.
The only other chance of the half fell to the Gills, Good link up play down the right from Harry Stannard and Greg Cundle ended up with Cundle crossing along the floor to 15 year old Sam Lawford at the back post but his goalbound effort was excellently blocked by Wimbledon right back Will Mannion.
The second half started in much the same fashion with both sides evenly matched and it was a mistake that would give the visitors the lead 10 minutes into the second half. Chris Haigh in the home goal inexplicably passed the ball to Nesset Bellikl who shifted his weight to the left and drilled into the bottom left corner from 20 yards.
This setback gave the hosts the kick up the backside they so needed and almost responded straight away. Left back Mitchell Welch, finding himself in the area, heading just wide from Dan Adams clipped cross. It wasn’t long until the Gills equalised. Dan Adams low centre found Cundle with his back to goal 10 yards out, his turn and shot rifled into the roof of the net.
The home side were to be level for less than 5 minutes. Riccardo Thompson was robbed of possession by the impressive Agyei and his pass found Ben Harrison on the diagonal. His first touch took him inside the defender and he found the net in an almost identical fashion as Wimbledon’s first goal.
Gills tried to force the game but it was all huff and no puff with the side lacking quality going forward and it was Wimbledon who had the ball in the net again with less than 10 minutes to play but the goal was ruled out for offside.
Gills didn’t threaten an equaliser until stoppage time, first Dan Leonard, on as a second half sub, jinked pass two players before hitting the stantion behind the goal with the keeper rooted to the spot before an almighty scramble from an inswinging corner kick, with heads and boots flying everywhere.
The final whistle blew and the cup run is over for another year.
Gillingham: Haigh, Emptage, Welch, Chapman, Thompson, Dickenson, Adams ( Stewart 75), Lawford ( Leonard 64), Stannard, Cundle, Nougbele ( Stevenson 88)
Subs not used: Sykes, O’Mara
AFC Wimbledon: Bishop, Mannion, Roles, Sweeney, Gallagher, Williams-Bowers, Harrison, Bellikl (Batchelor 79), Frost (Stripp 88), Agyei ( Ano 69), Kaja
Stars for the future
In a game lacking quality, 3 players stood out as those that could make the first team for their respective teams.
For the Gills, left back Mitchell Welch put in a solid showing at left back and appeared to have good positional awareness and time on the ball. Secondly Greg Cundle is a talented footballer who took his goal well. Reminds me very much of Bradley Dack.
The stand out player for Wimbledon was their no9 and centre forward Dan Agyei. His hold up play and running of the channels was excellent, giving his team an outlet up top. Has the physical presence and with the help of Akinfenwa, could well make his way to the first team.