Dons thwarted by promotion-chasing Wycombe
Wimbledon 0 v Wycombe 0
Wimbledon were left frustrated after being held to a second-successive home goal-less draw as they drew 0-0 with promotion-chasers Wycombe on Saturday 18 April.
The Dons saw Bayo Akinfenwa hit a post, a strong penalty appeal turned down, and Craig Tanner have a goal ruled out as they had to be content with a point.
After weathering initial Wycombe pressure, the Dons started to come out of their shells, and midway through the first period Akinfenwa’s header from a deep Sean Rigg cross was bouncing off the woodwork.
Akinfenwa soon had another chance following a through ball by Barry Fuller, while Jake Reeves also saw an effort too high as the Dons continued to press.
And shortly before the break Wycombe keeper Matt Ingram flapped at a George Francomb corner only for Deji Oshilaja to be unable to get his head to the ball.
The Dons continued to press in first-half injury time, with Ingram having to be smart to deny both Ade Azeez and then Tanner on the follow-up.
Early in the second period the Dons did have the ball in the back of the net only for Tanner – without a goal since his loan arrival from Reading – to have his celebrations silenced as it was somewhat harshly ruled Akinfenwa had fouled Aaron Pierre in the build-up.
The second half soon degenerated into a scrappy midfield encounter, but Wycombe’s Steven Craig should have done better just before the hour when he blazed over a half-cleared ball, while Akinfenwa also went close following a Francomb run.
And the Dons also had a penalty appeal when Francomb and Akinfenwa again combined only for the big striker to be hauled to the floor with no reward, with Tom Beere’s subsequeny shot saved by Ingram.
And the Dons had no further joy even after Wycombe had Pierre sent off late in the match for a second booking.
Dons manager Neal Ardley used the second-half as an opportunity to field three youngsters off the bench, with Ben Harrison, Tom Beere and David Fitzpatrick all coming on. Indeed, apart from Ross Worner, all of the players on the bench were graduates of the club’s development squad.
The match extends Wimbledon’s unbeaten home record to nine matches. They’ll be hoping to take it to ten when they round off their home campaign against Cheltenham Town on Saturday 2 May.
Wimbledon: Shea, Fuller, Goodman, Oshilaja, Francomb (Beere 83), Reeves, Tanner (Harrison 84), Bulman, Rigg (Fitzpatrick 84), Akinfenwa, Azeez. Subs not used: Worner, Oakley, Sweeney, Gallagher.
Booked: Rigg 52, Tanner 75.
Wycombe: Ingram, Yennaris (Kretzschmar 44), Pierre, Mawson, Wood, Murphy, Bloomfield (Bean 8), Saunders (Ephraim 69), Craig, Hayes, Onyedinma. Subs not used: Fletcher, Lynch.
Booked: Pierre 57, Kretzschmar 96.
Sent off: Pierre 87.
Att: 4,535.
By Rob Crane
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April 19, 2015
