AFC Wimbledon were made to settle for a point on New Year’s Day as a plucky Forest Green Rovers side fought hard for a 1-1 draw.
Kicking off 2024, the game brought together two sides who had very different needs for points – with the men in yellow and blue looking to boost our play-off hopes whilst the hosts aimed to climb out of the relegation zone.
As a result, the 90 minutes was very much a war of attrition that resembled a chess match at times as the sides took it in turn to attack the other.
The major moments came early on, with Matty Stevens’ opening header being cancelled out by a mazey run and finish by Ali Al-Hamadi.
Admittedly it was FGR who came close to stealing victory at the end, meaning that the Dons will be in some ways glad to emerge with a point on a day when our number 10 also struck the inside of a post.
Johnnie Jackson named an unchanged side from the 5-3 win over Colchester United, with Al-Hamadi and Omar Bugiel both starting their final match before the duo depart for Qatar to play in the 2023 Asian Cup.
We’ve become accustomed to seeing our side make fast starts this season, but it was the hosts who struck first after barely four minutes. Kyle McAllister tricked his way inside before crossing for Stevens to head past the static Alex Bass.
It was an early shock that the Dons looked to respond to quickly with Al-Hamadi bursting into the area before being crowded out.
The Iraqi international wasn’t to be denied a second time though as he brought us back level. Connor Lemonheigh-Evans was the creator as he threaded a ball through the eye of a needle. Al-Hamadi took control, bypassed a few challenges, rounded the goalkeeper and fired home from a tight angle.
Jake Reeves and Armani Little were beginning to dictate proceedings as the game approached the half hour mark, with the former seeing a shot from distance clear the crossbar.
FGR continued to threaten from the wide areas, with Callum Morton getting on the end of a cross to force Bass to tip the ball behind for a corner. Jack Currie also had to be on hand to put in two expert sliding challenges as the hosts continued to pose a threat in transition.
Up the other end, Josh Davison had his first effort of the afternoon, firing over from long distance under little pressure. Al-Hamadi then came mightily close to doubling his tally just before the break, as he dribbled past two challenges and struck the ball against the inside of the far post.
Into the second-half and it was a case of looking to do more of the same from our perspective. A dominant opening five minutes included Reeves having a low effort comfortably saved by Luke Daniels in the FGR goal.
There was a change in thinking for the Dons in attack as both Harry Pell and James Tilley were introduced for Bugiel and Lemonheigh-Evans respectively.
Tilley was quickly involved as he collected a slide rule pass from Reeves and cannoned in a shot that Daniels had to palm wide. Then came another attacking substitute for Wimbledon as Josh Neufville replaced Davison.
The game became a sparring match in the final 10 minutes as both sides looked to give everything to find an all-important winner.
It was Forest Green who almost snatched all three points at the death, with Wimbledon throwing in some game saving blocks – including a clearance off the line – to ensure we left with a share of the spoils.
AFC Wimbledon: Alex Bass, Huseyin Biler, Jake Reeves, Ryan Johnson, Josh Davison (Josh Neufville), Ali Al-Hamadi, Armani Little, Omar Bugiel (Harry Pell), Connor Lemonheigh-Evans (James Tilley), Jack Currie, Joe Lewis
Attendance: 2,786 (627 away)
PICS: Clive Howes (Pro Sports Images)