Yeovil Town 1-1 AFC Wimbledon
Neal Ardley felt AFC Wimbledon were outstanding on Saturday but was frustrated to only come away from Yeovil Town with a point.
Ryan Bird gave the injury-depleted home team the lead when he stooped to nod home Omar Sowunmi’s flick-on with 26 minutes on the clock.
Jake Reeves and Paul Robinson had efforts strike the woodwork for the Dons either side of the break, before Adebayo Akinfenwa finally made the visitors’ pressure tell, heading home George Francomb’s corner with 11 minutes to play.
“I thought we were excellent and our performance levels all around the pitch were really good,” Ardley told Dons Player.
“We could have been 2-0 up inside the first ten minutes. Jake hit the post and the ball rolled across the goal line.”
Ardley admitted that as the search for an equaliser extended deep into the second half, he began to wonder if his team were destined to journey home empty-handed.
“We came in at half time thinking that we had to keep at it,” he said.
“Second half we kept going, but it got to 75 minutes and we had hit the bar and had two or three other great chances.
“You start to think it is going to be one of those days, but you have to keep going and keep your performance levels high.
“The boys did that and eventually we got the goal.”
Despite having to settle for a share of the spoils, Ardley was relieved that the 593-strong travelling Dons’ support was given something to cheer when Akinfenwa popped up with his second goal of the campaign.
“I thought our fans saw a team that was exceptional at times,” added Ardley.
“We could have lost 1-0 and a lot of fans would have been dissatisfied, but the team did not deserve that.
“I am pleased for everyone involved with the club that we will go home in good spirits.”
The result at Huish Park leaves the Dons three points outside the play-offs, with Notts County due at Kingsmeadow next Saturday.
Feature image courtesy of AFC Wimbledon TV, via Youtube, with thanks
