Swindon Town suffer chastening on the road at AFC Wimbledon

Omar Bugiel swept home from close range very early on to give Wimbledon a lead that could easily have been significantly larger after a first-half in Swindon had simply not been at the races.

The second half was a more even affair than the first, but Armani Little came up with a moment of magic with a rocket into the top corner, with Ali Al-Hamadi adding another to give Wimbledon the win they were very good value for.

Defeat sees Swindon miss the chance to move into the play-off places, as Wimbledon leapfrogged them into seventh in the League Two table.

Michael Flynn decided to stick with the same starting team and squad that featured in the 4-3 win against Accrington Stanley ten days ago. Despite positive updates about the fitness of several players, nobody was back in time to be involved.

Currie gets away from Hutton (Image: Callum Knowles)

Wimbledon were out of the traps quickly and could have scored when a throw-in was flicked into the path of Ali Al-Hamadi. He lifted the ball over Murphy Mahoney and Frazer Blake-Tracy had to scramble back and clear off the line.

Then after six minutes, the hosts did take the lead as after a few balls were not properly cleared, Wimbledon played a cross low across the six-yard box and Bugiel found himself unmarked from a yard out to tap into the unguarded net.

The pressure was still mounting after 14 minutes when Bugiel used his strength to manoeuvre Udoka Godwin-Malife away from him and head the ball back to Connor Lemonheigh-Evans. He took a touch and drilled a low shot that went just wide of the near post.

Swindon were struggling early on, and the crowd was getting on top of them. Blake-Tracy got an early booking after a few scuffles with Josh Neufville as the team struggled to find any rhythm and space.

Young and Johnson compete for a header (Image: Callum Knowles)

Inches separated Wimbledon from what would have been a well-deserved second goal as Bugiel continued to be a handful as he played Lemonheigh-Evans into the box, he aimed his effort at the near post, but saw it come back off the upright.

The onslaught persisted and after 27 minutes Al-Hamadi was played beyond the Swindon defensive line and he looked to shoot, but Harrison Minturn had tracked him well and got a touch on the shot to make it an easy save for Mahoney.

After half an hour Swindon had not had a shot or even really managed to hold possession within forty yards of the Wimbledon goal. The high pressing and energy of their hosts had left any attempt at holding possession or counter-attacking completely null and void.

Swindon struggled to get Young involved (Image: Callum Knowles)

Michael Flynn tried to be proactive and switched to a back four by replacing Harrison Minturn with Charlie Austin after 34 minutes. A change had to be made and it offered another body in attacking areas as Swindon prayed for any kind of foothold.

37 minutes were on the clock when Town had their first chance of any description, George McEachran won the ball in midfield and instantly played Dan Kemp in behind. He raced away and crossed into the path of Jake Young, the ball bounced up in front of him and his shot went over the top.

In first-half stoppage time, Alex Bass mishit a ball forward and it went to Young. He got his shot off quickly, forcing the goalkeeper to race across his line, but he was able to get back in time and make the save.

Kemp during the first-half (Image: Callum Knowles)

More by luck than by judgement, Swindon went into the changing rooms only a goal behind and on paper at least, still in the match.

Less than a minute after the break, Austin and Remeao Hutton combined down the right to get the latter in behind. He cut the ball to Kemp on the edge of the area and his low strike ricocheted off the post and bounced to safety.

The hosts came back at Swindon and after Blake-Tracy had been forced to head away a string of crosses, Lemonheigh-Evans did well to create space for himself and flashed a shot just wide of the far post.

Young challenges for a header (Image: Callum Knowles)

Wimbledon doubled their advantage before the hour after a quickly taken free-kick was played to Armani Little and he smashed an effort into the top corner from 25 yards.

Williams Kokolo raced around the outside of Jake Reeves and crossed low to Austin. He took a touch and looked to finish, only for his shot to be blocked by the flailing defender.

With ten minutes remaining, with his first touches after coming on Harry Pell played Al-Hamadi into space in behind to slot his finish beyond Mahoney and into the bottom corner.

Al-Hamadi turned home again close range in stoppage time to cap off a difficult day for Town.

Khan plays a pass (Image: Callum Knowles)

AFCW starting XI: Bass, Biler, Reeves, Johnson, Al Hamadi, Neufville, Little, Bugiel, Lemonheigh-Evans, Currie, Lewis.

AFCW substitutes: Tzanev, Brown, Tilley, Pell, Davison, Pearce, Ball.

STFC starting XI: Mahoney, Hutton, Blake-Tracy, McEachran, Young, Khan, Kemp, Kokolo, Godwin-Malife, Kinsella, Minturn.

STFC substitutes: L. Ward, Genesini, Dworzak, Shade, Austin, Brown, Hart.

Attendance: 8,275 (1,200 away).