Match Preview | AFC Wimbledon (H)

27 October 2023

The Shrimps welcome AFC Wimbledon to the Mazuma Mobile Stadium on Saturday 28 October in Sky Bet League Two.

Our unbeaten run was extended to seven games following Tuesday night’s 1-0 home win over Tranmere Rovers. Jordan Turnbull headed the ball into the back of his own net following a dangerous Chris Stokes cross.

It was quite the contrast for AFC Wimbledon midweek, they fell to a 4-2 defeat against Accrington Stanley at Cherry Red Records Stadium. Having been three goals down, the Dons came close to completing a comeback after netting twice before Bradley Hills bagged a winner in the closing stages.

Looking back at the 12 previous meetings, it couldn’t be more even with four wins, four draws and four defeats each. Our most recent encounter came in January 2022 where we played out a 0-0 draw in the capital.

The Opposition

Heading into the game, two places and two points separate the sides in the League Two table. The Shrimps sit eighth with 24 points and AFC Wimbledon currently find themselves 10^th on 22 points.

The London club have enjoyed a relatively strong start to the season with five wins, seven draws and only three defeats after 15 games played. Of those five victories, four have come away from home alongside four draws and no defeats.

Manager Johnnie Jackson joined the club as manager in May 2022 having previously been in the hot seat at Charlton Athletic. The 41-year-old has taken charge of 73 matches for the Dons, winning 22, drawing 23 and losing 28. Having accumulated a total of 89 points, Jackson’s average points per match total is 1.22.

Key Players

One of AFC Wimbledon's biggest threats so far this season is James Tilley. With eight goals and four assists in all competitions, the 25-year-old has played a vital role in the Dons' attacking play. Tilley also boasts League Two experience having played over 120 games for the likes of Grimsby Town, Crawley Town as well as his current employers.

Former Accrington Stanley man Harry Pell left East Lancashire to join AFC Wimbledon in August 2022, his second spell for the club having spent between 2013 and 2015 in South-West London. An aerial threat given his height, the 32-year-old brings versatility to the squad and can play as a defensive midfielder, attacking midfielder, second striker or centre forward.

Goalkeeper Alex Bass is currently on a season-long loan from Sunderland, and has kept six clean sheets out of 15 League Two appearances to date this campaign. The 25-year-old was part of Portsmouth's EFL Trophy winning squad of 2018/19 and also won the PFA League One Player of the Month award in February 2020.

Johnnie Jackson Pre-Match Thoughts

Ahead of his side's long trip north, Jackson said their away form can give the AFC Wimbledon players confidence ahead of our Mazuma Mobile Stadium showdown.

Speaking to AFCWimbledon.co.uk, he said: "Morecambe are a tough side and it’s a tough place to go.

"They’re on a decent run of form, but our away form has been really strong. We’ve got lads who are desperate to play, to put things right, and are also in a positive frame of mind when it comes to attacking these away games.

"We'll go up there with full confidence that we can go and get a result, knowing – as always – we’re up against opposition that can cause us problems.

"However, we can do that ourselves, as we’ve shown time and time again."

Team News

James Connolly, Jacob Bedeau and Adam Mayor all miss out through suspension.

Skipper Donald Love is doubtful after his early substitution midweek, whereas Jake Taylor and Stuart Moore remain side-lined with injury.

Meet The Officials

Referee Ed Duckworth will be the man in the middle on Saturday afternoon, he will be joined by assistants Daniel Woodward and Ivan Stankovic alongside fourth official Alex Gray.

Duckworth was promoted from the National League to League’s One and Two during the summer, meaning he’ll be taking charge of the Shrimps for the first time against AFC Wimbledon.

After taking charge of 11 games in all competitions so far this season (League’s One, Two, Carabao Cup and EFL Trophy), he has issued a total of 57 yellow cards and one red card to date.

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Match Reports

Report | Morecambe 4 AFC Wimbledon 1

28 October 2023

A relentless second half display saw the Shrimps score four times to claim a dominant victory over AFC Wimbledon.

Michael Mellon netted 30 seconds into the second half before converting a penalty on 61 minutes. His hat-trick was completed with two minutes of normal time remaining, while Armani Little’s 72 minute goal proving nothing more than a consolation.

Some nice build-up play from the Shrimps on five minutes saw Jacob Davenport produce the first shot of the game after turning well into space, though the midfielder couldn’t keep his effort down.

It was nearly advantage Morecambe on 12 minutes when Joel Senior’s long throw was flicked on inside the box by JJ McKiernan, Michael Mellon got a touch before Jordan Slew’s attempt on goal was cleared by a visiting defender.

A big opening for the visitors came moments later as Ali Al-Hamadi’s powerful cross into the mix from the right just about evaded the onrushing attacker at the back post.

Al-Hamadi was pivotal in another chance for AFC Wimbledon on 22 minutes. After twisting and turning away from Morecambe defenders, his eventual shot was blocked at close range before Adam Smith was quick off his line to claim possession.

At the other end, Tom Bloxham was expertly picked out by Slew at the back post, though a crucial intervention from a Dons’ defender took the ball right off Bloxham’s boot and away to safety.

The away side were inches away from taking the lead at the half-hour mark as, after rising highest to meet the cross, Joe Lewis’ header sailed narrowly over Smith’s crossbar.

Senior produced a piece of defensive magic to keep the game level on 41 minutes. Smith’s initial save from a powerful strike fell to the feet of Al-Hamadi, his rebound looked destined to find the back of the net, but there was Senior to clear off the line.

With seconds of first half added time remaining, James Tilley managed to turn and get the shot off from distance; a deflection from a Morecambe man took the sting out of the strike which went behind for a corner.

Half-time: Morecambe 0 AFC Wimbledon 0

It was the perfect start to the second half for Derek Adams’ men. Slew picked up possession down the left and threaded a pinpoint ball through to Mellon who rounded Alex Bass and slotted home underneath two recovering defenders.

Things got even better just four minutes later in unbelievable circumstances. Under pressure from McKiernan, Bass looked to clear a back-pass, but his clearance struck Lewis before the ball rolled helplessly beyond the shot-stopper and into the back of the net.

Two minutes before the hour mark, the Shrimps were awarded a spot kick after Omar Bugiel, who was booked moments earlier, brought down McKiernan as he looked to get the shot off. The Dons man avoided a red card as Mellon stepped up and made no mistake, sending his strike straight down the middle.

The visitors pulled one back on 72 minutes after Little was in position at the edge of the box to receive the pass and curl the ball beyond a diving Smith into the bottom corner.

Huseyin Blair looked to bend one into the top left corner with 10 minutes of normal time to play, but a vitally important Farrend Rawson header kept the visitors at bay.

With the second half minutes ticking by, substitute Connor Lemonheigh-Evans managed to meet a corner into the box with his head, but it lacked the power and direction to really test Smith, who claimed the ball comfortably.

If it wasn’t already, the game was won with three minutes of normal time to play. Max Melbourne forced Bass into a close range save before Mellon was on hand to convert the rebound, completing his richly deserved hat-trick in the process.

Full-time: Morecambe 4 AFC Wimbledon 1

Morecambe: A Smith, Tutonda, Rawson ©, Songo’o, Bloxham, Mellon (Walker, 90+5’), McKiernan (Brown, 90+8’), Senior, Slew, Stokes (Melbourne, 83’), Davenport (C Smith, 90+8’).

Subs not used: Pedley, Dobson.

Goals: Mellon (46’, 61’, 88’), Lewis OG (51’).

Bookings: Davenport, Tutonda.

Red cards: None.

AFC Wimbledon: Bass, Reeves ©, Johnson, Tilley, Al-Hamadi, Neufville (Lemonheigh-Evans, 73’), Little, Bugiel (Davison, 61’), Currie, Lewis, OGundere (Biler, 62’).

Subs not used: Tzanev, Pearce, Ball, Sasu.

Goals: Little (72’).

Bookings: Bugiel.

Red cards: None.

Attendance: 4,453 (356 away).