AFC Wimbledon 2 Plymouth Argyle 1
Lyle Taylor and Tyrone Barnett produced a striker’s one-two as AFC Wimbledon made it two wins out of two in the Checkatrade Trophy with victory over Plymouth
A low key affair light years away from their playoff final back in May, was settled when the frontmen struck twice in three second half minutes to overturn the Pilgrims’ half-time lead.
Plymouth led with just seven minutes played and it was Connor Smith, who wore a Wimbledon shirt when Dons won at Wembley, who inflicted the damage.
The midfielder’s original free-kick appeared to have been cleared, but when it came back to the former Watford man he fired a low 25-yard shot beyond James Shea’s right hand.
Dons produced a moment of invention five minutes later when a Parrett free-kick dinked over the visitors’ wall allowed Barnett to test Pilgrims’ keeper Vincent Dorel with a header.
The keeper’s immediate throw out launched a counter attack which ended with Craig Tanner’s cross falling to Jordan Slew who seemed certain to double the Devon’s side lead only to be denied by a superb parry by Shea.
Worryingly for Dons, captain for the night Jake Reeves limped out of the action on the half hour, but they finished the half strongly, Dominic Poleon forcing a save from Dorel.
Straight after the break Barnett got in down the left and saw his shot cleared off the line by Ben Purrington. The former Shrewsbury man’s next effort was ballooned over the stand, spoiling good work by George Francomb down the right, but Lyle Taylor went close too as Dons stepped up a gear.
The pressure told on 65 minutes when Sean Kelly’s ball from the left was flicked on by Barnett and Taylor nipped in ahead of Dorel to squeeze it inside the far post.
The turnaround was completed when Taylor returned the compliment, beating two defenders on the right of the box and crossing for an unmarked Barnett to volley home. Donaldson saw a shot deflected for a corner, but Dons had done enough.
