AFC Wimbledon manager Neal Ardley will be re-examining the performance of referee Gavin Ward after last night’s goalless draw at Cambridge.

It was a tale of two penalties at the Abbey Stadium as Adebayo Akinfenwa and Robbie Simpson both failed to find the net from 12 yards.

Cambridge’s spot-kick was awarded for handball when Sammy Moore was adjudged to have stretched out an arm to block Ryan Donaldson’s effort in the box.

Back to his best: Sammy Moore

However, Ardley questioned the decision to penalise his midfielder for handling the ball and will be taking a look back at the video evidence before drawing a full conclusion.

He told Dons Player: “I thought it was an exceptional save. I need to see the footage again though before I can really comment because we’ve had a few issues with this referee in the past, Bristol Rovers away a couple of seasons ago, and I need to have a look at it.

“We got told in a referee’s meeting at the start of the season that handballs in the penalty box, unless they’re deliberate, won’t be given. When somebody blasts the ball at your guy’s hand from a yard away it seems harsh that it’s anything but an accident.

Adebayo Akinfenwa
Denied: Adebayo Akinfenwa

“Everyone in the dressing room is disappointed. Sammy Moore came in and was the old Sammy Moore. I was delighted with everyone. I thought that in open play we were much the better team. They carried a threat from set-pieces, but I was delighted with our boys.

“It was a high level of performance. I cannot fault them and the only thing I was disappointed with is that we did not get a goal from one of the numerous great positions that we got ourselves in. I thought we were excellent.”

Ardley also felt his team, who are back in action at Hartlepool on Saturday, might have been awarded a second spot-kick when a Jake Reeves shot appeared to have been handled.