AFC Wimbledon 2 Oxford 1 – Dons enjoy slice of luck to pocket a vital three points in League One

By Anthony Scales at the Cherry Red Records Stadium

Manager Neal Ardley won’t be complaining as his Dons side enjoyed that slice of luck teams sometimes need to keep their feet from the fire, the combination of a soft penalty and a moment of defensive suicide from Oxford helping his side bank a crucial three League One points.

The visitors had announced their intent from the off with debutant Cameron Brannagan trying a cheeky lob seconds after kick-off and the Dons’ Barry Fuller heading an Isaac Buckley-Ricketts header off the line inside three minutes.

Lyle Taylor went close for the hosts in the 16^th minute when he bent a shot inches wide of Simon Eastwood’s left-hand post but the Dons had another let-off when Josh Ruffels slashed his shot horribly off target with the goal gaping after a Deji Oshilaja back-header had dropped short of George Long in the home goal.

Wimbledon took the lead just past the half hour when Harry Forrester hurled himself over a prone Todd Kane in the visitors’ area to win the softest of penalties from referee Christopher Sarginson, Taylor sending Eastwood the wrong way from the spot.

Justice was partially served six minutes before the break when Oxford counter-attacked and Long made a hash of a straightforward-looking Buckley-Ricketts shot and Kane rammed home the rebound at the right-hand post. And the Dons could have been in deeper trouble moments later when Kane streaked down the right and his cross hit Oshilaja on the arm in the area but the official was unmoved this time.

The second half started less eventfully but the Dons were indebted to Long in the 66^th minute when he thrust out his right glove to deny Oxford substitute Wes Thomas, although the Us player should have done better.

And the Dons were gifted the lead in the 71^st minute when Taylor dropped a free-kick from the left touchline into the six-yard box, the visitors were all at sea and keeper Eastwood took a swing at fresh air with his boot before half-time substitute Jon Meades drove it back across him from the far post and in.