Depleted Dons get another chance at progressing in FA Cup

AFC WIMBLEDON 1
Pigott 43
DONCASTER 1
Anderson 63
BY MARK LEWIS AT THE CHERRY RED RECORDS STADIUM

Glyn Hodges’ depleted AFC Wimbledon side were left to fight another day in the FA Cup as they were held to a draw, played in an unrelenting downpour.

Stripped of seven first-team players due to injury, the Dons manager was also without Marcus Forss after parent club Brentford refused to allow him to play.

Doncaster should have gone ahead on the half-hour mark – Kwame Thomas’ close-range header was parried wide by Nathan Trott.

Kieran Sadlier tested Trott’s reflexes before the Dons finally gave a drenched home crowd something to shout about.

Referee Darren Drysdale only awarded a corner rather than a penalty, despite Anthony Hartigan’s advance towards goal being halted by a rash challenge.

Wimbledon were toothless up front until Joe Pigott notched his third goal of the season just before the break. Luke O’Neill’s crosses have been a positive since his return from injury and the quality of his 43rd-minute delivery meant the striker only needed to glance it on to beat Doncaster keeper Seny Dieng.

The Dons should have extended their lead close to the hour, an unmarked Terell Thomas heading Hartigan’s cross wide.

Doncaster were level soon after. Danny Amos curled in a wicked in swinging cross on 63 minutes and defender Tom Anderson sent in a  thumping header.

A rare attacking opportunity for the Dons saw Pinnock make enough space to set up Kwesi Appiah with a curling cross, only for Dieng to pull off a diving stop.

The replay is on November 19.

AFC Wimbledon (3-5-2): Trott 7, Wagstaff 7, O’Neill 7, Thomas 8, Kalambayi 7, Osew 6 (Guinness-Walker 79), McLoughlin 6 (Reilly 74), Hartigan 6, Pinnock 6, Piggott 6, Appiah 8. Not used: Tzanev, Stabana, Macnab, Robinson, Madelin.