AFC Wimbledon 1-3 Carlisle United
Neal Ardley insisted his future remained at AFC Wimbledon following defeat to Carlisle, despite an approach from League One Gillingham.
The Dons went ahead through an Adebayo Akinfenwa header before headers from Sean O’ Hanlon and Steven Rigg put Carlisle ahead.
David Amoo secured victory late on and Ardley spoke after the game confirming his long term commitment to AFC Wimbledon.
“Gillingham are looking for a young manager and I’ve been the name put in the mix,” he said.
“They’ve done it the proper way and approached the club and I’m very glad the club don’t want to lose me and I don’t want to go.
“Between me and the club, we’ve got to put plans in place to improve and we have been. You can see that as this season we’re a better team than we’ve ever been.
The Dons had a perfect start with Akinfenwa scoring his ninth goal of the season after two minutes, tapping in a Callum Kennedy cross.
Carlisle were level 15 minutes later as a Kyle Dempsey free-kick perfectly found the head of O’Hanlon, who finished powerfully.
Akinfenwa’s header hit the bar 25 minutes in and Brad Potts forced a good save from James Shea late on but the teams went it level.
Carlisle completed the turn around ten minutes into the second half with Rigg scoring the third headed goal of the game after a Danny Grainger cross.
The game was end to end from there but neither team was able to capitalise despite Akinfenwa looking a constant threat.
Debutants Alfie Potter and David Connolly were sent on by Ardley and looked lively but were still unable to grab a vital equaliser, with a goalmouth scrabble cleared off the line.
With Wimbledon pressing Carlisle countered and Amoo wrapped up the game after Shea parried the ball into his path.
Wimbledon will head to Accrington Stanley next week hoping to get their first win of 2015.
