Martin Ling returned from illness to see his side share the points in an entertaining but ultimately frustrating goalless draw at Blue Square South champions AFC Wimbledon.

"I've not been feeling great but the performance has lifted my spirits," he said afterwards. "That was our toughest test so far but on chances we were the better side.

"We had some gilt-edged chances, especially in the first 25 minutes when we had Chrissy Holroyd's shot blocked on the line and Danny Crow missed an absolute sitter - and he knows he overran it - and the Jai Reason chance in the second half.

"Wimbledon had some things going across the box but the only one really was when their lad overran it and Pottsy got us out of a hole. So it's another away point and we're resilient and defensively sound, and if you're building something that's a good base to build something from."

Brian Saah was limping at the end of the first half but Ling revealed that the former Leyton Orient man had his ankle strapped at half-time and was able to complete the game: "That's pleasing for him and as a back four they're looking decent.

"I'd spoken to them before about the fullbacks being a bit too wide, because I want them to be progressive fullbacks but when we don't have the ball I want them to stay narrow. I think we were a lot narrower today and as a unit with Pottsy behind them they were good.

"You can pick a few holes in some of our attacking play but we had three gilt-edged chances and we should have won the game, and their manager said as much afterwards."

With two of the Blue Square Premier's leading scorers - Chris Holroyd and Danny Kedwell - on the same pitch a goalless draw was unexpected, but Ling declared himself not disappointed with the away point.

"That's how it happens sometimes; Kedwell has been good for them and obviously Chris has been great for us but this was a game where there were chances. It shouldn't have been a nil-nil but if you offered me an away point all season you'd tend to take it and I think people will come to this place and find it difficult," he said.

Striker Lee Phillips made another appearance from the bench as he continued along the comeback trail following his pre-season knee injury, and Ling was pleased to see him get another ten minutes under his belt.

"It's a very difficult situation with no reserve team football and nowhere to find him some football, but he's gone on there again today and done a little bit for us and he'll be ready sooner rather than later," he said.

"That gives us a good four to fight it out up front. Mark Beesley has done well and he scored last week, so with him and Lee and the two that started today it gives me a selection headache that I'm more than happy to have."

Ling can now look forward to a full week working with the players before Wrexham's visit next Saturday and he is looking forward to it: "It's been such a stop-start season so far; I've been off for a week and we've had ten games and I think Paul Carden has taken four and I've taken six, which is ridiculous.

"Hopefully I'll be fine from now on and we'll get back to me leading the ship, but you have to take your hat off to Carden for those last two games and four points. It certainly had me trying to lift my head off the pillow last weekend with the seven goals, and our goals against column is looking good."

Next Up

United are next in action at home to Wrexham on Saturday 19th, and tickets are on sale now or you can pay on the day. However, our following home match against Luton Town on Saturday 26th September has been made all-ticket so there will be no pay on the day admittance and tickets are on sale now [details].

[Match report] [Fixture list] [League table]

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