AFC Wimbledon can’t end winless run but do earn point at Gillingham that could be key in League One survival fight

BY KAI BENNETT

AFC Wimbledon’s winless run now stands at 14 league matches after they drew 0-0 at Gillingham on Tuesday night.

The game between two clubs scrapping for survival had a cagey feel about it at the start – both teams more keen on not making a mistake rather than opening up and going for it.

Saturday’s 4-0 defeat against Bolton Wanderers still seemed fresh in the minds of the Wimbledon players and that had an effect in the opening stages.

Gillingham’s game plan was clear – to put long balls in behind the Dons backline for Vadaine Oliver but the 30-year-old met his match in Ben Heneghan, who won 11 aerial duels.

Wimbledon head coach Mark Robinson had to make a 14th-minute change after Aaron Cosgrave was forced off after going down twice in five minutes. That was quite a big loss for the Dons as it meant Sam Cosgrove was extremely isolated up top, even after a system change.

When the Dons did go forward the pace and power of Paul Osew was their biggest threat, with the wing-back looking to use his speed to get to the byline and pick out Cosgrove.

For a game that had 31 attempts between the two sides, it was clear where they were both lacking – and that’s quality in the final third. Gillingham had the better of the possession, but for that they rarely tested Wimbledon goalkeeper Nik Tzanev.

The Gills had three penalty shouts waved away by referee Christopher Sarginson – all three would have been extremely soft had they have been given.

The best two chances of a tight and pragmatic game came in the last 10 minutes of the match.

Wimbledon came so close to getting all three points when Fulham loanee Terry Ablade – yet to score in nine outings for Robinson’s side – saw a spectacular overhead kick cannon back off the crossbar.

Robinson said his side picking up their first clean sheet in nine league matches was “pleasing” – but it was almost so nearly snatched away in stoppage time. It needed heroic defending on the line from the Wimbledon defenders to prevent Gillingham nabbing a late winner.

Wimbledon face another pivotal fixture this weekend as 22nd-placed Doncaster Rovers – 2-0 victors over Accrington Stanley in midweek – head to Plough Lane on Saturday.

STAR MAN
Ben Heneghan. Battled really well with Gillingham’s Vadaine Oliver.

BEST MOMENT
Terry Ablade so nearly winning it late on with an outrageous bicycle kick that hit the crossbar.

PICTURES: LUCY DIXON