AFC Wimbledon vs Harrogate Town – Match Report

Daly goal gives Town a well-earned point against fellow play-off challengers Wimbledon

After taking an early lead via Matty Daly, Town fall short of taking all three points back to Harrogate as a determined Wimbledon side battled back to draw level and share the points despite having 10 men for half an hour.

Town came into this one looking to build on the Yorkshire derby day delight at The Envirovent last weekend with another tough challenge against fellow play-off chasers, AFC Wimbledon.

With four draws on the bounce on the road, Town looked to go one better today. Weaver and his men knew that three points today would put them right in the mix with the run-in heating up with less than 7 games to go.

As for team news, Town’s starting XI remained the same from the 3-0 win against Bradford but there was movement on the bench which saw Sam Folarin back in action after returning from injury having been out since the beginning of the year.

It was a quick start for Town with Jeremy Sivi getting some early involvement as he drove at his opposite number before jinking inside and fired a shot low which was goal bound but early danger signs were waved away as the shot was well blocked.

Town continued the early pressure, and this time made it count as on 8 minutes Daly fired the visitors into the lead as the ball stemmed from Sivi who released Thomson down the line in acres of space and had time to pick out Daly who arrived late into the box and swept home into the bottom right corner.

In the opening 15 minutes Thomson took on the role of playmaker, finding frequent pockets of space to pick up the ball before spraying the ball out to release Sivi, Daly, and March who were able to breach the defence, but led to no change to the scoreline.

A brief injury to Belshaw as he landed heavily following a corner and another injury for Wimbledon defender O’Toole slowed the tempo of the game midway through the half which allowed Town to settle in possession being content with a one goal lead.

Daly came close to making it a brace for himself 10 minutes before the break as he turned his man midway into the Wimbledon half before curling a low effort which whistled inches past the post.

Town went into half time leading Wimbledon one goal to nil and looked to build on the impressive performance in the first 45 minutes.

It was a fast start for Wimbledon who looked destined to score just one minute and twenty seconds into the half as a floated ball into the box was met by Curtis who couldn’t direct his header goalwards from four yards out.

On 51 minutes March and Balmer were both shown a yellow card for an off the ball altercation which the referee had no choice but to book the pair.

On 58 minutes Wimbledon found the equaliser following a set-piece which was sent into the box, the ball was failed to be cleared and the ball fell to Curtis who made no mistake from close range to get the home side back into it.

On the hour mark the goalscorer Curtis was sent off for a late challenge on Sutton. It was a decision that surprised both teams, but the referee had a great view of it and was quick to show a straight red card.

Town’s first substitution came with twenty minutes to go as Dooley made way for Muldoon. Simon Weaver evidently opting for an attacking change looking to capitalise on the man advantage.

10 minutes later there were a couple other attacking changes for Town as Folarin entered the fray in replace of March, earning himself some minutes coming back from injury and Odoh looked to be the spark to turn the tide in Town’s favour as he came on for the goalscorer Daly.

Foulds had a great chance at the death following a cross into the box but his header couldn’t find the net and resulted in the bar flying over the bar. That summed up Town’s second half with little to shout about in the attacking third despite having a man advantage.

Overall, a well earned point on the road against fellow play-off challengers but Town would perhaps leave disappointed to not capitalise on the opportunity to snatch all three points.