Jackson joy as his Dons boost lofty aspirations

By Thomas Ridley

CARLISLE UTD 1

Dennis 67

CARLISLE: Breeze 7, Davies 7, Lavelle 8, Thomas 7, Harper 7, Vela 6 (Wearne 66, 6), Guy 6 (Whelan 66, 6), Bevan 6 (Scott 54, 6), Harris 8, Jones 6 (Embleton 86), Dennis 7 (Kelly 86). Subs not used: Lewis, Hayden.

AFC WIMBLEDON 2

Maycock 2, Smith 49

AFC WIMBLEDON: Goodman 6, Hutchinson 6, Lewis 6, Johnson 7, Neufville 8, Reeves 7, Maycock 8 (Hippolyte 66, 6), Smith 8, Furlong 7 (Ogundere 65, 6), Bugiel 7, Stevens 7 (Kelly 79, 6). Subs not used: Ward, Harbottle, Browne, Sasu.

Att: 7,050 Rating: ★★★★★ Ref: Martin Woods 6/10

JOHNNIE Jackson was pleased with his Wimbledon side as they moved into the automatic promotion places with a victory that heaped more woe on bottom side Carlisle United.

Callum Maycock and Alistair Smith got the goals for the Dons to put them 2-0up, but it was a nervy climax for the promotion chasers as Matthew Dennis pulled a goal back for the hosts with over 20 minutes left.

Jackson said: “We deserved to win it. The end was nervy because we had a one-goal cushion, but we saw it through. After their goal, our goalkeeper didn’t have much to do.

“We showed two sides to us today, we played some really good football and we dug in when we had to.It’s actually my lad’s birthday, I’m buzzing for him as he asked me to bring back three points for his birthday present.”

The Dons boss was also impressed by the performances of his two goalscorers, Maycock and Smith.

“We brought Maycock back into the side for his energy and goalscoring positions. He was great and it was a really good finish as well, I’m delighted for him and for us. “It was really good from Smudge (Smith), again something that we’ve been banging on about tirelessly is midfielders arriving into the box. That’s where you want Smudge.”

Maycock opened the scoring with the first chance of the match, as the midfielder turned excellently in the box to fire a left-footed shot into a top corner.

The Dons then had a huge chance to double their lead, as Smith’s curling effort was spilled by Gabe Breeze and Omar Bugiel sent the rebound over the bar from close range.

The Blues had a chance to equalise with Dennis having a pair of close-range efforts charged down after some good work from Archie Davies. Jackson’s men doubled their lead in the 49th minute through the impressive Smith, who volleyed home after he met a Josh Neufville cross. Carlisle pulled a goal back via Dennis in the 67th minute after he headed home from a Kadeem Harris cross, but it failed to fuel a fightback.

Carlisle boss Mark Hughes said: “It was a terrible start, it’s a similar situation for the second one in all fairness, we’ve conceded once again very quickly after the break and that’s disappointing.

“We made some changes in the second half that brought more energy, but sometimes we’ve got to be a little more basic, put balls into the areas and make them make mistakes.”