Match report
It was very much a game of two halves as AFC Wimbledon travelled to Fleetwood Town looking to bounce back from their 3-2 humbling at home to Woking in the FA Trophy the previous Saturday.
There was a return to the starting line-up for fit-again Ismail Yakubu, with Terry Brown making just two changes from the defeat at Kingsmeadow three days before.
Fleetwood were the first to threaten, with a shot after two minutes. Early possession and a succession of passes ended with Gareth Seddon having a shot that went high and wide of goal. The Dons responded well to the home side’s early pressure, forcing two corners, the first of which came after a pinpoint 30-yard cross-field ball from Kirk Hudson. Not for the first time, the pace of Ryan Jackson was an early threat on the right flank.
Fleetwood should have taken the lead in the 14th minute when centre-back Jamie Stuart was caught in possession on the halfway line. Jamie McGuire was left with a clear run on goal, but the ever-impressive Seb Brown came out to the edge of his area to deny the midfielder.
Two minutes later, Dons captain Danny Kedwell made Fleetwood pay for not taking their chance when he slotted home from six yards out after a zipping ball across the floor from the creative Jackson. It was Kedwell’s first league goal in two months, his barren spell now broken with two goals in as many games.
Wimbledon grew in confidence after the goal and continued to threaten. The home crowd were subdued, and the Dons midfield engine room dominated the centre. When Sammy Moore lofted a delicate ball over the top for Jackson to chase, the Dons winger got in front of his marker but his shot was hampered when the recovering defender got back well, and in the end it was an easy save for keeper Scott Davies.
Fleetwood captain Steve McNulty showed his frustration with his team’s lack of forward momentum with a shot that went closer to the corner flag than to Seb Brown’s net. At this point in the game, it was the best that Fleetwood could offer.
Four minutes before half-time Wimbledon should have doubled their lead. Kedwell was put through as the Fleetwood back line appealed for offside, but his newfound confidence in front of goal was not enough to extend the Dons’ lead, and he shot straight at Davies.
The flurry of action at the end of the half resumed with Fleetwood now attacking. After good hold-up play, George Donnelly fed Sean Clancy, who delivered the ball dangerously across the goalmouth, and Magno Vieira slotted home to make it 1-1. The half-time score flattered the home side: Wimbledon were much the better team in the first 45 minutes.
Vieira was again in the thick of the action minutes after the restart, dribbling through the Dons’ defence and going to ground – but referee Mark Heywood pointed to the corner flag rather than the penalty spot.
The late equaliser in the first half had clearly changed the balance of the game. Fleetwood attacked the Dons consistently for the first 10 minutes of the second half, and their pressure almost paid off when the creator of the first goal, Clancy, hit the woodwork. The linesman had already flagged for offside, but it was a warning to Wimbledon that Fleetwood would be far from happy with just a point.
The home side continued to make all the early running in the second half and kept Seb Brown busy. More good work on the left by Clancy allowed Junior Brown to tease a cross towards the far post, where it took a Gareth Gwillim header to stop Fleetwood from finding the net again.
The Dons were finding it difficult to get a foothold this half, and were being forced to defend resolutely to keep the scores level. But Seb Brown continued to look assured between the sticks, dealing with shots from Donnelly and Clancy – the latter requiring a diving save down to his left.
Jackson was presented with a golden opportunity in the 76th minute when Shaun Beeley’s back-header was too short for keeper Davies, but unfortunately the Dons winger could only fire over after neat control. It was easily Wimbledon’s best chance of the second half.
Two minutes later, Jackson was replaced by Luke Moore, Terry Brown feeling it was time to freshen up the side for the final 15 minutes. At the same time the influential Sean Clancy was replaced by Jamie Mullen.
With 10 minutes left, Seb Brown once again proved his worth when he denied Vieira his second goal, clawing the ball into his grasp when at full stretch down to his left after the Brazilian had been put through by Seddon.
The final whistle signalled the Dons’ fourth league draw in a row, leaving them without a win in five games. Hopefully it would be back to winning ways against lowly Southport the following Saturday.
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