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Ardley pleased despite missed opportunity for AFC Wimbledon at Cheltenham

Neil Ardley was happy to share the spoils as AFC Wimbledon drew 1-1 at Cheltenham, but was frustrated not to take all three points.

Adam Barrett’s equaliser before the break earned the Dons the point after Matt Taylor capitalised on keep James Shea’s mistake to give the Robins the lead.

The Dons came close in the second half when Adebayo Akinfenwa hit the bar, but they could not find the winner.

“It is a good point, it was a resilient point. We didn’t want to be sloppy at the back. Everyone should be pleased with how we have played.” – Neil Ardley

Ardley said: “We were disappointed that we didn’t win the game.

“They edged the first half and they caused us one or two problems and we didn’t solve them.

“At half-time we told the side how they needed to solve the problems and they did.

“In the second half they didn’t have any clear-cut chances or many attempts on goal and we carried a good threat.

“It is a good point, it was a resilient point. We didn’t want to be sloppy at the back. Everyone should be pleased with how we have played.”

After a confident start from Wimbledon, the home side took the lead when captain Taylor bundled over the line after Shea spilled the ball.

Following their goal, Cheltenham continued to pressure the Wimbledon backline with John Marquis and Craig Braham-Barrett calling Shea into action.

It took 27 minutes for the Dons to fashion their first chance, with Trevor Carson saving well from a point blank Matt Tubbs header.

Four minutes before half time, a Wimbledon corner created an opportunity in the box for central defender Barrett, and he levelled by firing a shot past Carson.

The second half was very even, with no side managing to gain an edge over the other.

However, with 15 minutes to go, Akinfenwa struck the Cheltenham crossbar, before putting a chance just wide with nine minutes remaining as the scores ended all square.

Wimbledon’s attention now turns to their grudge match with MK Dons in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy on Tuesday.

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