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Stoke were under pressure from the first minute, Finn scuffing a shot deflected for a corner. The corner was not cleared and Dolan was forced to intercept the visitors, John Main bearing down on goal. 3 minutes later Wimbledon had a further corner and Bristow intercepted with a fine tackle to prevent the influential Main being put clear. The Don's had a central free kick, driven straight at the home wall from 22 yards. Stoke broke away and forced a throw in near the right corner flag. Tucknott, Williamson and Faulkner were involved in some nice play but a misplaced pass broke up a decent opportunity to put pressure on the opponents. Finn forced a corner for the Don's which Dolan rose to clear and Haswell got past Lewis to get in a cross that Dolan headed away 2 yards from his goalelin.
On 17 minutes Tucknott was away down the right and his cross aimed at Faulkner was claimed by the keeper first. 2 minutes later Main was clear and shot at goal, Dolan and Williamson's vain attempt to clear helping the ball into the net. The ever lively Tucknott had a couple of good runs forward but could not find anyone at the end of his crosses. The visitors now began to take control, Main bursting through and unable to get control of the ball bobbling just as he shot, forcing it inches wide of the Town post. The wave of attacks continued, 2 home defenders required to stop Finn in his tracks. On the half hour the home side forced a free kick on the edge of the box but could find no way through the visitors solid defence. Play switched to the opposite end and again it was Main who was held up by Aiden Lewis. 3 minutes later Lewis again was called upon to intercept and conceded a corner. The visitors continued to pile on the pressure and Finn and main combined with a 2 on 1 chance, fortunately for Stoke neither took control of the situation and the chance was lost. the first real opportunity for the home side came 8 minutes from the break, Tucknott forcing a corner which Dolan met and was able to get direction but no power. 3 minutes later Haswell was booked for the Don's for a cynical foul on Tucknott just as he was about to enter the box, the fact that he was not last man meant he saw yellow rather than red. The half finished with a Don's corner which Judge failed to get any power in his header. Half time 0-0
Lovegrove replaced Tarpey at half time and he came into the game as the half progressed. The second half was more even than the first however the visitors had more chances to make the game safe but failed to do so.In the first minute Main shot at Dolan and from the resulting corner Godfrey blasted in from 16 yards but the shot was blocked. A long clearance by Dolan found Tucknott in space but his cross was easily claimed by the visiting keeper. 9 minutes in, a speculative shot by Garrard for Wimbledon was easily claimed by Kitteridge. 2 minutes later the Don's thought they were through on goal only for the linesman to rule offside. At the other end Faulkner collected, turned and shot and was deflected for a corner. On the hour some nice work by Stoke resulted in a speculative shot from Ruggles from distance. Immediately at the other end a similar shot from Hatton went over the bar. Williamson blasted wide from in the box after being set up by Faulkner. With 68 minutes gone Dolan timed a great tackle to prevent a scoring chance for AFC Wimbledon's Hatton.
Dolan then mistimed a tackle on Main who had been a thorn in Stokes side all afternoon. Fortunately with 2 of his team mates in good positions he executed a poor pass. Stoke could not clear their lines and Main forced a corner. Gibbs replaced Ruggles with 19 minutes remaining. Following a good move by the visitors, Hatton blasted over from a central position 19 yards out. Into the last third of the second half Stoke had a free kick and the visitors managed to scramble the ball away. Dean Mason replaced Finn for the Don's with 11 minutes left and having been caught offside on countless times Main sprung the trap and shot with 1 on 1 with Kitteridge, who was more than equal and saved on the edge of his area. As Stoke tried to pressure in the closing minutes the visitors forced a throw in near the left corner flag. Tucknott fouled Haswell and received a booking. 3 minutes from time Gibbs held up the ball and took the shot when a pass may have been the better option. Bristow picked up a booking and Godfrey shot over the bar for Wimbledon. The visitors attempted to eat down the clock with a double substitution, Godfrey replaced by Leberl and Haswell by Hussey. In injury time Hatton headed just wide from a corner for the Don's and from a free kick Dolan could not get sufficient power in his header to beat the visiting keeper. The visiting team should have put this game out of sight, but the home team stuck to their task and one bit of magic would have cost the visitors dearly for failing to kill the game off.
Basingstoke: Kitteridge, Lewis, Watkins, Bristow, Dolan, Ruggles (Gibbs 71mins), Tucknott, Williamson, Faulkner, Jombarti, Tarpey (Lovegrove 45 mins) subs not used; Perkins, Waller, Ogunbote.
Attendance 1509, Man of the Match: Joe Dolan
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