A first half double from Ellie Dorey saw AFC Wimbledon knock Fulham Women out of the Capital Cup as the Whites played their first female fixture at Craven Cottage in more than twenty years.
Steve Jaye’s side delivered a performance full of passion and endeavour in front of 3,181 fans at their historic home despite going behind to an early Dorey drive. The Dons dominated the first twenty minutes and went in front in the fourth minute when the always dangerous Ashlee Hincks found space in the box and her shot was deflected into the path of her strike partner. Dorey drilled a finish in the far corner past a diving Edie Kelly.
The goal didn’t dishearten the hosts and once Lois Konan and particular Chloe Christison-McNee got to grips with the midfield battle the contest looked different. Faye Baker made a couple of smart saves to prevent Fulham’s forward line from profiting form some purposeful play and the visitors doubled their lead with a fine counter-attacking goal. Hincks burst into the penalty area, drawing skipper Mary Southgate across before squaring for Dorey to drive home her second of the afternoon.
But the Whites managed a riposte before the half time break. Fine feet from Helen Ogle on the left wing allowed the experienced forward to work the room for a cross and the lively Georgia Heasman ghosted in at the far post, cleverly guiding a finish home from close range. The hosts carved out several good chances in the second period with Olds heading over and substitute Edie Buchele going close, but Wimbledon made sure of progression when Hincks finished emphatically after Southgate’s clearance had been charged down.
Fulham kept pushing until the end with Annie Thomas seeing a late shot blocked on the goalline before Hincks somehow squandered a glorious opportunity to make it four. The home side finished in the ascendancy with Olds and Ogle unable to force home from a set play – but the real story was that their long-awaited return to the Cottage will help inspire a new generation of young women to play the beautiful game.
FULHAM WOMEN: Kelly; T. Allen, Southgate, Stormer; Allen, Konan, Lambird, Foreman; Heasman, Ogle, Olds. Subs: Cowan, Modak, Mendes, Thomas, Buchele.
GOAL: Heasman (44).
AFC WIMBLEDON: Baker; Russell, Brooks, Mann, Highman, Taylor, Stow, Siber, Donovan, Dorey, Hincks. Subs: L-A. Allen, Newman, Sampson, Billingham, Lockett.
GOALS: Dorey (4, 40), Hincks (65).
REFEREE: Harry Yellen.
