Azeez goal thwarts Plymouth ambitions
Plymouth1 v Wimbledon 1
Wimbledon failed to win at Plymouth for the first time since their return to the Football League as they were held to a 1-1 draw on Tuesday 14 April.
But the Dons will be pleased with the character they showed as they fought back as the home promotion-chasers threatened to take a stranglehold on the match.
The first half was evenly balanced. Bayo Akinfenwa was amongst the first to threaten following a through ball by Barry Fuller.
But at the other end the Dons saw Carl McHugh’s shot deflected just wide and James Shea was then required to make a fine save to deny Bobby Reid.
Although Gethin Jones’ header bounced off the crossbar, the Dons carried on fashioning chances of their own with Akinfenwa seeing one header deflected over and then forcing a save from Luke McCormick from the follow-up corner.
The home side came forward with renewed vigour after the interval, with Shea forced to save from Lewis Alessandra.
And in the 54th minute the home side went ahead with a Bobby Reid corner delivered to the near post that Anthony O’Connor headed home from close range.
The home crowd ratcheted up the volume but, just after the hour mark, the Dons stifled their head of steam by snatching an equaliser. Akinfenwa found half-time substitute Craig Tanner in the box and, although McCormick saved his effort, Ade Azeez was on hand to tuck the ball home.
Plymouth continued to press as they sought a win that would bolster their play-off credentials, but Wimbledon held firm with Shea saving from Alessandra and the same Plymouth man then missing a guilt-edged chance.
And Wimbledon could have snatched it at the end when Jake Reeves was denied by another McCormick save.
Youngster Dan Gallagher came on for his debut in injury time as the Dons held firm. Although their sequence of wins at Home Park had been ended, they could be pleased with a hard-earned point.
Plymouth: McCormick, Nelson, McHugh, Hartley, Jones, Reid, O’Connor, Blizzard (Lee 86), Holmes-Dennis, Alessandra, Reid (Ansah 71). Subs not used: Bittner, Mellor, Cox, Banton, Brunt.
Goalscorer: O’Connor 54.
Wimbledon: Shea, Fuller, Goodman, Oshilaja, Smith (Tanner 45), Francomb (Beere 77), Bulman, Reeves, Rigg, Azeez (Gallagher 91), Akinfenwa. Subs not used: Worner, Phillips, Harrison, Sweeney.
Goalscorer: Azeez 62.
Booked: Bulman 43.
Att: 6,900.
By Rob Crane
What did you think of Wimbledon's performance? Why not comment on our forum?
April 17, 2015
