Virgo Penalty Spoils The Wimbledon Party

Promotion tipped Bristol Rovers battled past a spirited AFC Wimbledon comeback to take the points in the opening game of the League 2 season.

Rovers took control of the game early in the first half thanks to a low strike from Scott McGleish and a close range Matt Harrold header only for the lead to be cancelled out, Jamie Stuart connecting sweetly with a Sam Hatton free kick before substitute Charles Ademeno turned swiftly in the box and put the ball under Rovers goalkeeper Scott Bevan to equalise.

The game finally turned back the way of the visitors when Brett Johnson’s wayward hand lead to a penalty that Adam Virgo placed home.

It was the Dons debut in the Football League and it was to be one long party for the Wombles fans no matter what the result, though Rovers did their best to be the party poopers with the opening goal on nineteen minutes.

Wimbledon goalkeeper Seb Brown chose to throw out to the centre of the pitch but no sooner had Ricky Wellard taken possession of the ball then Rovers captain Matt Gill had won it back, slotting a through pass to the veteran Scott McGleish who went hard and low to beat Brown at his far post.

The clock ticked just three minutes further before Wimbledon dropped another clanger, McGleish hassling the opposition defence into error and running clear into the box. Though his initial shot was saved McGleish was able to pick up the ball on the byline and clip a cross onto the head of Matt Harrold, the forward nodding home from six yards.

With Rovers in control the game looked to be heading one way but Wimbledon were soon back in it as Jamie Stuart scored with a header of his own, turning Sam Hatton’s swinging free kick into the net, the fingertips of Rovers custodian Scott Bevan not enough to stop the bullet.

The second half started with the home side looking the better of the two and their dominance was rewarded with a deserved equaliser, Charles Ademeno taking receipt of a Lee Minshull header that he duly swivelled on before beating Bevan to send the majority of the 4,629 crowd into raptures.

The Wimbledon pressure eased off in the closing stages but Rovers could only find Brown in top form. That was until Brett Johnson’s handball gave Adam Virgo the opportunity to settle the game from the spot, the centre back duly converting with a slam of his instep.

Big Kick Off For Dons And Rovers

The League 2 season kicks off in earnest with Football League debutants AFC Wimbledon facing off with recently relegated Bristol Rovers in front of what will be a capacity crowd at Kingsmeadow.

For Wimbledon the game completes a nine year quest for a slot in the professional divisions, five promotions during that time taking them from the Combined Counties Premier to League 2.

Bristol Rovers on the other hand have spent the close season rebuilding the squad that failed to retain the clubs League 1 status last term and Paul Buckle's forthright approach to this regeneration has lead to the Gas being labelled as one of the front runners for promotion to the third tier.

How Are They Doing?

Both managers have lead their sides through impressive pre-season campaigns. Terry Brown, the Wombles gaffer, failed to win just one of their warm up matches, that was against Sutton, but there have been thoroughly thrilling victories against Premier League Fulham and Championship Watford. It was the Dons, though, who got the domestic season underway when they faced off with Crawley Town in a preliminary round Carling Cup tie. Twice the visiting Wimbledon took the lead only to be pegged back before Matt Tubbs, scorer of 37 goals in the Conference last season, ended the Wombles cup campaign before it had even begun, something that Rovers fans know too much about having fallen at a similar stage to Boston back in 2002.

Rovers scored in each of their pre-season games, netting 23 times in 9 matches, against opposition that varied from Western League Division 1 to the Championship, twice the Gas were controlling games against second division clubs, beating Burnley 2-0 and letting a one goal lead slip in a 2-1 defeat to last year’s losing play-off finalists Reading. The managers will know that pre-season games are about fitness and gelling for their players and that once the season kicks off for real these matches will count for nothing, but they nevertheless will have raised expectations for both fans and players alike for the season to come.


Who Are The Match Winners?

One of Wimbledon's best pre-season performers has been striker Luke Moore. The 23 year old, not to be confused with his Swansea City namesake, scored the opening goal in that Carling Cup tie after a jinking run that beat the majority of the Crawley defence before dispatching a twenty yard drive into the back of the net. That strike adds to further superlative efforts during the Wimbledon friendlies, most notably both in the beating of Watford, and his ability to conjure something from nothing, not to mention his sky-high confidence and excellent form, will mean he is the danger man for the Rovers defence to deal with.

The quick feet of winger Mustapha Carayol, Rovers 7th signing of the summer, will make him one to watch at the Memorial Stadium this year. His unbridled flair and pace have lead to the winger making mugs of numerous opponents and with a squad that, on paper, looks as strong as any other in the division his ability to create goals and cause havoc could prove pivotal in a successful season for the Gas. Last term Carayol was a part of the Lincoln City side who were relegated to the Conference, the team scoring just 45 goals in the process, but with a different calibre of players around him the flying winger will feel confident that his mazy runs will end up with the ball in the back of the net on regular occasions.

Have We Met Before?

Strictly speaking no, AFC Wimbledon and Bristol Rovers have never taken to the same pitch, but the now defunct Wimbledon have played the Pirates before. The five games between the sides have produced just a single win apiece with the other three matches ending level. The only Rovers win came the first time the two clubs were paired, that was in the FA Cup back in 1968, 4-0 the final result there, and since the four League games, all played in the 1980s, have only seen either side come out on top once, Wimbledon winning 1-0, while there were two 1-1 draws and a 2-2 stalemate, the latter being the first time the clubs had met in league competition in 1981.

Who's Up For It?

Bristol Rovers will be missing left back Gary Sawyer who is currently recovering from a double hernia operation. Stuart Campbell will also miss out, as will young midfielder Ollie Clarke.

Sammy Moore, Charles Ademeno and Lee Minshull are unlikely to make the squad with injuries. Manager Terry Brown has admitted that he is unlikely to make many changes from the squad that were defeated by Crawley in the Carling Cup.

They Said What?

Dons boss Terry Brown spoke about his pride at being able to lead his charges out in the Football League for the first time, not only for the club but in his own managerial career.

"Everything after a play-off final is secondary but to be able to lead Wimbledon out on what is an historic occasion is something I will remember for the rest of my life.


"It is a fantastic, how many managers get to manage in the football league? There is only 92 of them and I am part of that now which is pleasurable for me."


"As far as the club is concerned and the fans are concerned, it is a day they have looked forward to ever since they first started the club nine years ago and it will be a real carnival atmosphere, no doubt about that."

Rovers manager Paul Buckle discussed with the press how not only his squad but the whole club has grafted to make this season one to remember.

"We have done a lot of hard work ourselves this summer. Our club has suffered a disappointing relegation, one they felt they shouldn't have gone down.


"The fans, directors and players who are still here are still hurting, so they have got a point to prove, I have got a point to prove and so have the new players.


"We have got enough in our minds to serve us well on Saturday. I am really looking forward to the game, it is going to be exciting. I am a believer that the best team will win on the day, and hopefully that will be us."

Wimbledon Are First Up For Rovers

9.00 AM Friday morning came the release of the Football League's fixtures for the 2011/12 season, fans around the country were waiting on edge, Gasheads included.

And so the time came, the website was updated and phones were bleeping, AFC Wimbledon away, a fascinating start to the new season.

It will be the Wombles first ever game in League football following their penalty shoot-out promotion from the Conference last season and, as such, fans will no doubt be packed into Kingsmeadow like proverbial sardines as supporters look to take in a slice of history.

Rovers will also end their campaign in the capital, Dagenham & Redbridge away pencilled in for May 5th in what could prove to be a promotion catfight between two of the teams relegated from League 1 last term.

The first home league game of the season for the Pirates will be a tasty affair in itself as Torquay travel to the Memorial Stadium for a clash with former manager Paul Buckle, hoping to prove that they were more than just a one man show.

Prior to that will be a cup tie at home against Watford, the Gas hoping to take revenge for a 1-0 Carling Cup defeat back in 2008, Rovers taking a first look at goalscorer Will Hoskins who would go on to become a fans favourite last term.

The Christmas and new year period will see Rovers play Plymouth Argyle at home on Boxing Day, Crewe Alexandra on new years eve and Barnet away on January 2nd. Gillingham will be visiting Bristol on April 7th before an away trip to Crewe on Easter Monday, two days later on the 9th.

Local rivals Swindon will be the opposition on December 10th (home) and March 31st (away) while there will also be trips to west country rivals Cheltenham on January 21st, Torquay on March 10th and Plymouth ten days later on the 20th, a Tuesday night jaunt. Relatively short trips to Oxford United and Hereford will occur on October 8th and January 7th respectively.

Accrington Stanley, defeated in last season play-off semi finals, will be the last home opposition for Rovers on April 28th.

As well as AFC Wimbledon Rovers will play Conference champions Crawley, Morecambe and Burton Albion for the first time, while also making their debut at Shrewsbury's Greenhous Meadow.

Manager Paull Buckle was interviewed following the announcement of the fixtures and spoke about the excitement that the new season would produce:

"That first game will be extra special, as it will be a carnival atmosphere for AFC Wimbledon and a fantastic way to kick off the season.

"That first game is going to be a big game, and interesting for many reasons. Combined with the Carling Cup game against Watford it will be a good way to start the season.

"I do not want to look too far ahead, as we need to concentrate on making a good start.

"However, it will be good for the fans to have the two festive fixtures at home, as they are always popular games."

Fixture release day whets the appetite for the new season and fans will be already scheduling those all important journeys for the year to come.

The full fixture list can be found here.