Rigg denied as Dons draw with Oxford
Oxford 0 v Wimbledon 0
Wimbledon were denied a late winner as they drew 0-0 with Oxford United on Saturday 11 April to extend their unbeaten home record to eight matches.
Former Oxford man Sean Rigg thought he had scored with a header with the minutes ticking away, only for the offside flag to snuff out his celebrations.
The Dons started with teenager Ryan Sweeney making his full debut and the youngster went on to win the man-of-the-match award in a game that defenders dominated, while James Shea returned from injury.
Both sides had chances in the opening exchanges, with former Wimbledon loanee Danny Hylton firing over for Oxford and at the other end Bayo Akinfenwa heading over following a George Francomb cross.
Shea was then relieved to see Barry Fuller clear the ball off the line after the goalkeeper dropped a cross from George Baldock after colliding with a post, and Patrick Hoban also flashed an effort narrowly over the bar for the visitors.
But the Dons started to come into it as the half progressed and Rigg saw a volley from an Akinfenwa nod-down tipped wide by Oxford keeper Jamie Ashdown.
That combination was reversed minutes later as Rigg crossed for Akinfenwa, but the big striker again headed over.
Early in the second period the Dons lost stand-out defender Deji Oshilaja, stretchered off after a head injury, and they were relieved when Andy Whing chopped an effort just wide of the far post.
With normal time rapidly expiring, Rigg had his effort ruled out and then forced Ashdown into a point-blank save to preserve his clean sheet.
And the Dons continued to press into injury time allowed for Oshilaja’s injury, with Ade Azeez seeing a volley saved by Ashdown and then Akinfenwa also going close.
But ultimately the pressure was to no avail as the Dons and Oxford played out their second blank encounter of the season.
Wimbledon: Shea, Fuller, Sweeney, Oshilaja (Goodman 58), Smith, Francomb (Beere 93), Bulman, Reeves, Tanner (Azeez 84), Akinfenwa, Rigg. Subs not used: Worner, Harrison, Potter, Gallagher.
Booked: Goodman 61, Fuller 66.
Oxford: Ashdown, Baldock, Mullins, Wright, Skarz, MacDonald (O’Dowda 80), Whing (Ruffels 93), Rose, Roofe, Hoban (Vassell 32), Hylton. Subs not used: Clarke, Collins, Long, Dunkley.
Att: 4,234.
By Rob Crane
What did you think of Wimbledon's performance? Why not comment on our forum?
April 13, 2015
