AFC Wimbledon were made to settle for a draw by a stubborn Charlton Athletic side in a feisty South London derby at Plough Lane.
A cagey first half preceded an action packed second 45 minutes as the Addicks were reduced to 10 men following a poor challenge by Ryan Inniss, but it was the visitors who took the lead on the night as Jayden Stockley headed home.
It threatened to derail what was another promising performance from Bowen’s men until Zach Robinson popped up with an equaliser to set up a grandstand finish in front of a raucous Dons following in the South London Movers Stand.
We huffed and puffed but ultimately Charlton proved to be too stubborn and, in the end, any promising openings agonisingly came to nothing.
It is another point on the board, but at the same time the need for vital victories remains as we continue to seek to maintain our League One status heading into the final five games of the season.
Mark Bowen named an unchanged side for his first game in charge at Plough Lane, with the same eleven looking to go one better under the SW19 lights.
Meanwhile the likes of Ethan Chislett and Terry Ablade both returned to add more attacking depth to the bench.
The game started with the kind of pace people would come to expect from a local derby, with Wimbledon certainly having to stay alert to repel a few early Charlton chances that were expertly blocked or cleared away by the backline.
When the Dons did settle, they began to string together some neat passing moves that did appear to threaten an attacking opening, but the Addicks’ defence continued to prove to be a tough nut to crack.
Jack Rudoni had our best opportunity of the opening 45 minutes, with his shot from distance seeing Craig MacGillivray make a routine save just short of the half time whistle.
The second half took a few minutes to click into gear, but then there was a moment which got everyone off their feet for all the wrong reasons. Inniss – who had only been on the field for a matter of minutes – flew into a late challenge on George Marsh that saw referee Neil Hair produce an immediate red.
Thankfully the Dons midfielder was able to continue, and we began to get the bit between our teeth. Paul Osew was the first to go close with a low effort that was matched well by MacGillivray’s save before the lively Ayoub Assal saw his follow-up effort blocked.
However, that increase in momentum was quickly dampened as the visitors took the lead against the run of play. A routine cross wasn’t dealt with effectively, leading to Jayden Stockley heading home at the near post.
The Dons came back at their opponents with Will Nightingale the next to go close as his header was tipped over the top by MacGillivray as the visitors began to be pinned back in their own half.
And it wasn’t long until the pressure told as we got back on level terms. Substitute Chislett showed excellent skill and awareness to get down the flank, with his pinpoint cross being bundled home by Robinson and the home faithful erupted in celebration. Game on.
Eight minutes of injury time were produced but the Dons couldn’t find the telling touch despite their best efforts to conjure up what would have been a monumental winner.
There was certainly understandable angst felt at full time, but there is no time to focus on what might have been with another big game to come at the weekend.
AFC Wimbledon: Nik Tzanev, Henry Lawrence (Ethan Chislett), Dan Csoka (Nesta Guinness-Walker), Alex Woodyard, Will Nightingale, George Marsh, Ayoub Assal, Jack Rudoni, Zach Robinson, Ben Heneghan, Paul Osew (Dapo Mebude).