The lowdown on Accrington Stanley 0 AFC Wimbledon 0 – Hosts’ time-wasting proves infuriating
AFC Wimbledon maintained their unbeaten start to 2015 but lost ground in the League Two promotion race with a disappointing draw.
Here is Dave Hunt-Jackson’s lowdown on the match.
THE LINE-UPS
AFC Wimbledon: Goodman,Furlong (Hippolyte 84), Reeves, Johnson, Bugiel, Kelly (Browne 61), Neufville, Smith, Sasu (Stevens 61), Lewis, Ogundere. Subs not used: Ward, Foyo, Harbottle, Pigott.
Harrogate Town: Crellin, Rawson, Coyle, Whalley, Woods, Ward, Batty, Matthews, Walton (Mooney 87), O’Brien (O’Brien-Whitmarsh 68), Hunter (Caton 64). Subs not used: Kelly Henderson, Brown, Conneely
SNAPSHOT OF THE GAME
This was very much two points dropped by the visitors against a very ordinary Accrington side who seemed happy to play for a point from the kick-off with their constant time-wasting unpunished by an equally ordinary referee. Aron Sasu missed the only real chance of the game as his shot was too close to Billy Crellin, in the Stanley goal, who saved with his legs. Although the Dons were much the better of the two sides ,as all too often this season, they were lacking in the final third.
Matty Stevens could only make the bench following a knock against Bradford and James Tilley was away on paternity leave so there were two enforced changes with Sasu and James Furlong stepping up. Neither change was to Wimbledon’s advantage as Furlong was largely anonymous and is more of a full-back than a genuine wing-back . Sasu had a few nice touches, as well as fluffing his chance, but like Furlong had no telling impact on the game. Johnnie Jackson went for the win – bringing on three attacking substitutes in Marcus Browne, Myles Hippolyte and Stevens. Browne, in particular, added some impetus but it was another case of too little, too late.
STAR MAN
Ryan Johnson. He was back to his assured best and made a couple of crucial interventions on the rare occasions that the home side threatened.
BEST MOMENT
A flicked pass from Jake Reeves that sold two Accrington defenders completely. While it ultimately did not lead to a chance it was a rare moment of quality in a drab encounter.
MOAN OF THE MATCH
The time-wasting tactic of Accrington in general – and Crellin in particular. Referee Scott Oldham warned him three times about delaying the same goal kick without handing out any punishment. In a game short of action, the duo made things even worse.
A TALKING POINT DOWN THE PUB
The South Londoners have gone eight games unbeaten since losing to Chesterfield before Christmas and have conceded just three goals in the process. That is the good news. On the downside they have only scored eight times and have dropped eight points in drawing half of those games. With a struggling Crewe side arriving at Plough Lane on Tuesday, AFC Wimbledon need to turn those draws into victories if they are to ensure they stay firmly in the race for automatic promotion. It is puzzling that a team with so many attacking options are so goal shy and perhaps Osman Fojo might give them a boost after surprisingly not been called upon from the bench on Saturday.
WHAT THE BOSS HAD TO SAY