Last Gasp Shots Deny Dons
Aldershot 1 v Wimbledon 1
Wimbledon were denied victory by a deflected injury-time goal as they were held 1-1 at Aldershot Town on Saturday (10 September).
The Dons had withstood intense second-half pressure from the hosts and looked like sneaking away with all three points before Gareth Gwillim deflected the ball past Seb Brown to give the home side a share of the spoils.
It was cruel on the Dons who had taken an 18th-minute lead through Max Porter's first goal for the club.
The Dons gave a debut to centre-back Callum McNaughton, signed on loan from West Ham to help cover for injuries at the back, and the youngster gave an impressive display alongside the typically full-hearted Jamie Stuart.
The two men were in action throughout as the home side sought to exploit Anthony Straker's pace against Hatton, with Jamie Collins and former Dons target Danny Hylton both going close to opening the scoring.
But the Dons' pace up front was looking like causing the home side problems up the other end, with Christian Jolley in particular looking to exploit any opportunity to get behind the defence.
As it was, the Dons took the lead in the 18th minute when Sam Hatton's deep, looping cross was met by Porter and the former Rushden & Diamonds man's header looped over Shots custodian Ross Worner and into the back of the net.
Shortly before half-time the Dons suffered an injury to Sammy Moore who was left on the ground following a clash with Darren Jones and failed to emerge for the second-half after suffering the effects of concussion.
The absence of the industrious midfielder helped hand the initiative to the home side who piled forward yet consistently found themselves wanting, either coming up against the stalwart Dons defence or shooting high into the Aldershot fans behind the goal.
The manjority of the chances were squandered by Hylton, but Michael Rankine, Adam Mekki, Collins and Arron Morris all had golden opportunities that they also wasted.
And, when Hylton did finally beat Seb Brown, Hatton was on hand to block the ball on the line.
The game was deep into injury time when Hylton lined up another effort from the corner of the D. The tame shot looked to be covered by Brown but took a deflection of Gwillim and tamely rolled into the back of the Dons net.
It was a cruel way for the Dons to lose a goal after holding firm for so long despite the home side's second-half domination.
The Dons will now hope for better luck in back-to-back home league games against Northampton (Tuesday 13 September) and Cheltenham (Saturday 17 September).
Attendance: 4,110
Aldershot: Worner, Herd, Straker, Gutteridge, Jones, McGlashan (Bubb 77), Collins (Vincenti 87), Rankine, Hylton, Morris, Mekki (Rodman 63). Subs not used: Brown, Pulis.
Goalscorer: Hylton 94.
Booked: Collins 36, Hylton 71.
Wimbledon: Brown, Hatton, Gwillim, Stuart, McNaughton, S. Moore (Yussuff 46), Porter, Wellard, Midson, L. Moore (Jackson 72), Jolley (Djilali 66). Subs not used: Turner, Minshull.
Goalscorer: Porter 18.
Booked: Wellard 36, 92, L. Moore 56.
Sent-off: Wellard 92.
By Rob Crane
www.wimbledonsw19.com are the proud sponsors of Marcus Gayle's away kit
September 11, 2011
