3:30pm Monday 15th March 2010
By Steve Hollis
Boss Garry Wilson defended his choice of tactics as Eastbourne Borough failed to score for the third game running.
Wilson kept faith with the 4-5-1 formation which had worked so well in unexpected wins at Cambridge and York recently as they attempted to beat the odds again at play-off chasing Wimbledon.
It worked, to an extent, for 42 minutes as Wimbledon struggled to make the most of their dominance and a large crowd at Kingsmeadow began to grow restless.
The plan fell apart, though, when Glen Poole put the home side ahead just before the interval and, considering Borough’s record of only taking two points all season when they have fallen behind, you already felt the game was over at that point.
No wonder then, Wilson opted to try to stifle Wimbledon from the outset and the fact they were missing top scorer Liam Enver-Marum through injury meant preventing rather than scoring goals was always going to be the order of the day.
Borough, however, did threaten an equaliser when they switched to 4-4-2 ten minutes into the second half which prompted Borough fans at Kingsmeadow to suggest they should have been more positive right from the start.
Wilson said: “We came with a defensive system to try to frustrate Wimbledon and maybe nick something.
“It is so important to keep it tight as once you concede you are on the back foot. Just look at Gateshead. They didn’t go behind until the 46th minute and ending up losing 8-0 (to Rushden).
“We never really looked like creating anything in the first half but it was disappointing to lose a goal just before half-time.
“Our sole aim was to get in at 0-0 and then see if we could make any progress in the second half.
“We kept the same system in the first ten minutes of the second half as we didn’t want to concede a second goal but as soon as we tweaked we came into the game.
“We carved out two or three good chances in a little spell and if one of them had gone in then it’s a different game.
“In the last ten minutes we threw on a third forward and that left us a bit exposed at the back and they scored a second.”
The 4-5-1 formation has certainly worked well for Borough on their travels this season but how well it works depends largely on having Enver-Marum as the lone striker.
He gives them an outlet to relieve the pressure and can also create a goal out of nothing but was missing due to the ankle injury picked up against Kidderminster the previous weekend.
Instead Jamie Taylor led the line and, although he worked tirelessly against his former club, at 5ft.8in is not the ideal size to play up front on his own.
As a result Borough posed no threat at all in the first half and only a couple of fine saves from Danny Knowles prevented Wimbledon taking the lead earlier.
Despite Wimbledon’s dominance it looked like Borough might get in at half-time on level terms until Ricky Wellard was given too much room to put in a low cross from the right and Poole stabbed home from close range.
Knowles produced a superb reflex save from a Sam Hatton free kick to keep the lead to one in the second half after Paul Armstrong had brought down former Albion striker Nathan Elder right on the edge of the area.
Wilson then pushed Joe Benjamin up front alongside Taylor and all of a sudden Borough began to create a few chances.
Simon Johnson had a goalbound shot which deflected just wide and then Taylor volleyed straight at the chest of goalkeeper James Pullen from close range after being picked out at the far post by Neil Jenkins.
Nathan Crabb came on to make a three-pronged attack with eight minutes to go but Wimbledon wrapped up the points in the 85th minute when Danny Kedwell thumped home a header from Derek Duncan’s cross.
Borough remain two points outside the relegation zone with results elsewhere going there way and now face a crucial period of five games in 16 days.
The visit of Grays on Saturday is followed by games against Barrow, Gateshead, Forest Green and Ebbsfleet and how many points they pick up against their fellow strugglers will ultimately decide their fate.
Wilson is hopeful Enver-Marum will be back to take on Grays and is also keen to boost his attacking options this week by bringing a player in on loan.
He said: “We are starting a very important period now and we will now exactly where we will be after the next five games.
“We know it is a big opportunity but all the other teams will be saying exactly the same thing.
“We have got one or two irons in the fire and I would like to get an attack-minded player before the transfer window closes.
“We made enquiries about three or four players last week, including Danny Wright (Histon striker), but nothing happened but I think we’ll get someone this week.”
AFC Wimbledon: Pullen, Conroy, Lorraine, Judge, Duncan, Hatton, Adjei, Wellard, Poole, Kedwell, Elder.
Subs not used: Harmsworth, Brown, Stenning, Stafford.
Booked: Elder.
Eastbourne Borough: Knowles, Austin, Baker, Elphick, Jenkins, Benjamin, Smart, Armstrong (Weatherstone,90), Johnson (N Crabb,82), M Crabb, Taylor (Atkin, 90).
Subs not used: Rowe, Pullan.
Booked: Austin, Taylor, Armstrong, Smart
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