AFC Wimbledon v Chesterfield FC Report
Chesterfield take a share of the points at Wimbledon.
Either side could only manage the one goal, both of which were smart finishes from Wimbledon’s George Francomb and the visitors’ Ollie Banks to seal a 1-1 draw between the two teams.
Spireites boss Paul Cook made two changes from the surprising 3-1 defeat at Accrington on Saturday, with Jay O’Shea and Eoin Doyle taking the places of the injured Dan Gardner and Armand Gnanduillet.
In the opening moments, the visitors’ Doyle broke free of the hosts’ defence but his effort from close range was denied by the legs of Ross Worner. Francomb cut inside before unleashing a low and powerful shot that was held comfortably by Chesterfield goalkeeper Tommy Lee.
Kevin Sainte-Luce’s low pass across the face of goal only required a slight touch from a member of the Wimbledon attack, but Jimmy Ryan was alert and cleared the ball behind for a corner-kick. O’Shea’s curling effort from the right-hand side just sailed wide of the post, as both sides searched for the opening goal in this contest.
On the stroke of half-time, Doyle failed to control the ball and was forced into a strong challenge on Sammy Moore which earned the Irishman a yellow card.
Only five minutes had gone in the second period before the Wombles took the lead, after Francomb made his way into the opposition’s area before smartly finishing into the top left-hand corner of the net. The home side’s lead lasted a matter of minutes, until Ollie Banks peeled impressively away from his marker and rifled the ball past a helpless Worner from six yards.
Doyle was clattered inside the area by several members of the hosts’ defence, but the referee waved away the visitors’ penalty protests. On 68 minutes, Chesterfield’s Ryan was replaced by recent loan acquisition Daniel Kearns.
With 74 minutes on the clock, the home side made a double substitution. Sainte-Luce was replaced by Chris Arthur before Charlie Wyke entered proceedings at the expense of Danny Hylton. Only five minutes had passed before Marc Richards took to the field in place of O’Shea.
Roberts flicked the ball over the defence and drove into the box, although his tame effort trickled wide of the post. In the final few minutes of normal time, the home side opted to use their third and final change of the night with Harry Pell replacing Peter Sweeney.
It was then announced that there would be four minutes of additional time.
Seconds into time added on, Chesterfield’s Gnanduillet entered the fray in the place of Doyle. Neither side managed to create a last chance at goal, as the Spireites left the Cherry Red Records Stadium with a valuable away point.
