Date: Saturday 12th September, 2009
Competition: Blue Square Premier
Weather at kick-off: sunny
An entertaining game ended all square as defences in top form nullified the division's two leading scorers and ensured another clean sheet and another point on their travels for United.
The U's were unchanged for the sixth successive match as manager Martin Ling returned to the dugout after missing the last two games with a virus.
AFC Wimbledon manager Terry Brown made four changes to the side that drew 2-2 at Tamworth last weekend, calling up goalkeeper Seb Brown for James Pullen, and Paul Lorraine, Ricky Wellard and Derek Duncan in place of Alan Inns, Kennedy Adjei and Jon Main.
With sun shining on the compact and noisy Kingsmeadow, United made a good start and had the first chance when Robbie Willmott advanced down the left and got the better of Jay Conroy, making the most of a lucky ricochet to take a shot that flew wide of the far post.
It was an open contest with chances at either end for teams who were aiming to play good attacking football, and after Steven Gregory lifted a 25-yarder over Danny Potter's bar there was a great opportunity for United when Andy Parkinson slid the ball to Chris Holroyd.
The striker's heels were clipped as he darted into the area but penalty claims were waved away, and when the loose ball was lifted back in Holroyd's shot on the turn was blocked by Johnson for a corner, which was clawed away by the keeper and Gleeson's follow-up shot was blocked.
With the league's two leading scorers on the pitch - Holroyd on nine and Kedwell on eight - there were no shortage of chances and on 9 Kedwell's first time shot rose over the bar from 20 yards, while three minutes later Holroyd raced into space with Crow through the middle in support but Brett Johnson sent Holroyd flying, collecting the first booking as a result.
United caused all sorts of problems with their set pieces and on 16 Willmott's low free kick ran all the way through to Brian Saah in space at the far post but he had drifted offside and the chance was ruled out. The best chance yet came two minutes later when goalkeeper Seb Brown misjudged Jai Reason's long pass over the top, Danny Crow chased and brought the ball down on his chest with the goalkeeper beaten, but it ran too far ahead of him and he was unable to keep it in play.
Hatswell was doing a great marking job on Kedwell and made a good interception to block the striker's shot at the far post on 21, and as United broke away Gleeson made a strong run to earn another corner, which was caused panic in the area until headed away by Dons captain Paul Lorraine.
The home side began to exert some pressure of their own and Potter clutched Derek Duncan's cross on 26, two minutes later Kedwell beat Saah in the air but headed wide with Potter stranded, then on the half hour Luke Moore escaped from Hatswell and pulled the ball back across the face of goal, but the backtracking Anthony Tonkin slid in front of Hatton to make a vital interception and steer the ball over his own bar.
Two corners followed as United struggled initially to clear the danger until Potter made a catch, Willmott led the breakaway to earn a flagkick for his side, and a spell of full-blooded action followed as United tried to press home the advantage while Andy Parkinson made a couple of superb challenges to prevent Wimbledon breakaways.
On 37 the little winger met Crow's cross first time but his shot was blocked six yards out by Conroy, and two minutes later Crow chased a loose ball but was bravely beaten to the ball by the diving Brown. Elsewhere on the pitch, Brian Saah was a cause for concern as he tried to run off an injury but looked to be struggling, and on 43 his foul on Moore led to a free kick that Hatton fired wide from 30 yards.
In stoppage time Willmott's free kick reached Gleeson at far post and he played it back towards Hatswell, but he was closed down and his cross blocked in the final action of an entertaining half. Half-time 0-0
Half-time summary by match commentator Mark Johnson:
"A cracking game, lacking just a goal once more. Both sides are intent on playing good, attractive passing football and both have had their chances; we await the breakthrough."
Second half:
Saah was moving freely when he returned for the second half and United started promisingly again, Crow spotting Brown off his line and trying a shot from halfway that the backpedalling keeper just managed to prevent dropping under the bar.
The action was finely poised as both sides created and spurned half-chances to score; on 54 Wellard getting down the right and crossing towards Gregory but Gleeson closed him down, then three minutes later Holroyd's drive from the left of the area was superbly saved by Brown.
On the hour Holroyd tried his luck again with a drive from 25 yards that was blocked by Johnson, then Willmott drew a comfortable save from Brown with a long-range effort from the left..
The first substitution saw midfielder Lewis Taylor replace Wellard on 61, and two minutes later a good U's move culminated in Parkinson pouncing on Brown's parry and crossing to Gleeson but the defender was leaning back and his shot cleared the bar.
United had the ball in the net on 67 when Holroyd brought the ball a long way, rounded the keeper and tucked it into the net but the flag was already raised, and there was a scare at the other end soon afterwards when Potter came for Hussey's free kick but missed it, Lorraine beat him to it and headed it on to Johnson but his defensive partner nodded over the empty net from six yards.
Steven Gregory nodded another free kick over on 70 then there were more shouts for a United penalty when Jai Reason had a shot blocked twice by the determined Conroy and was brought down as he scrambled to reach the ball again.
Tonkin was booked for a foul on Taylor and before the 74th minute free kick was taken Danny Kedwell, who had been well-marshalled by the United defence, was replaced by young striker Ross Montague.
Reason and Holroyd linked well two minutes later as Reason fed the striker, who backheeled it back to him on the edge of the area, but the midfielder's shot rose over the bar, and on 81 Martin Ling freshened things up with a double change to send on Lee Phillips for Crow and Sam Ives for Parkinson.
Terry Brown made an attacking change to send on striker Jon Main for midfielder Duncan, and his side went close soon afterwards as Tonkin was forced into conceding a corner and Hussey's inswinger was nodded wide by Hatton from six yards.
With four minutes remaining Danny Potter was United's hero as Luke Moore broke clear but the U's keeper made a brave save at his feet, and as the home side chased the win Sam Ives made a great challenge to stop another breakaway move.
Jai Reason was withdrawn on 89 as Mark Beesley came on to form a three-pronged attack, Gleeson came off worse in a vital challenge on Moore, who was booked for the foul, and in stoppage time the home side wasted a free kick from three yards outside the area when Hatton lifted the ball over the wall and yards over the bar.
The final whistle marked another away point for United in an entertaining game in which the defences were on top form.
AFC Wimbledon:
Seb Brown, Jay Conroy, Paul Lorraine (c), Brett Johnson, Chris Hussey; Ricky Wellard (Lewis Taylor 61'), Sam Hatton, Steven Gregory, Derek Duncan (Jon Main 83'); Luke Moore, Danny Kedwell (Ross Montague 74').
Subs not used: Kennedy Adjei, Jack Turner.
Booked: Johnson 14' foul, Moore foul 90'
Cambridge United:
Danny Potter, Dan Gleeson, Brian Saah, Wayne Hatswell, Anthony Tonkin; Robbie Willmott, Paul Carden (c), Jai Reason (Mark Beesley 89'), Andy Parkinson (Sam Ives 81'); Chris Holroyd, Danny Crow (Lee Phillips 81').
Subs not used: Josh Coulson, Courtney Pitt.
Booked: Tonkin 74' foul
Referee: Mr Kevin Johnson
Attendance: 4,128 (away 682)
Post-match summary by commentator Mark Johnson:
"United welcomed Martin Ling back after his illness but couldn't provide the welcome back present he really wanted. With two of the Conference's top scorers on the pitch, the match somehow contrived to provide the least likely outcome. Wimbledon's Danny Kedwell was well-shackled by an assiduous United defence while Chris Holroyd was denied only by a last-gasp block in the first half. United had the better chances, particularly in a dominant first 20 minutes, but Danny Crow missed a golden opportunity to presage a day when United were close but not close enough."
Mark's Man of the Match:
"Wayne Hatswell - simply class at centre half, alongside an equally classy Brian Saah who deserves an 'honourable mention' along with Paul Carden and Jai Reason."
Ref: Mr Johnson - had a decent game, communicated with the players, didn't get everything right - but who does at this level? - and let the game flow. 7/10."
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