Cheltenham Town 1-1 AFC Wimbledon

Battling AFC Wimbledon produced a fine second-half display against Cheltenham today but were forced to settle for a draw at Whaddon Road.

Wimbledon, in a hark back to last season, conceded inside the opening 10 minutes but grabbed an equaliser before the break and were unlucky not come away with a victory in the end.

Neal Ardley made just one change to the side that was beaten heavily at Newport last week as a fit-again Jack Smith replaced young Ben Harrison at left-back.

Smith has seen his progress hampered at Kingsmeadow after sustaining an injury at MK Dons earlier this season but was deemed ready for this one after coming through training.

Bayo Akinfenwa has been in excellent form in recent weeks and created the first opportunity of the match for Matt Tubbs, however the Dons frontman couldn't hit the target.

But seconds later and Cheltenham took the lead.

Barry Fuller was beaten down the right and ex-Wimbledon striker Byron Harrison challenged James Shea for the ball in the middle, allowing Matt Taylor to nip in and stab the ball home.

Fuller and Shea exchanged cross words and the away side would have to chase the game in Gloucestershire.

Shea was questioned over the opener but Wimbledon had their goalkeeper to thank for keeping the lead at one when John Marquis played a neat one-two with Harrison before forcing a fine save.

Tubbs, who ghosted between the two Cheltenham centre-halves, called Trevor Nelson into action but the Robin shot-stopper was more than equal to it.

It looked as though the hosts were heading in 1-0 up at half-time until four minutes before the interval when Wimbledon's persistence paid off.

And persistence was the key word as Francomb fluffed his lines from a corner but his second delivery found Adam Barrett and the veteran sent Ardley's side in on level terms at the break.

Akinfenwa tried to change that after the restart.

The world's strongest footballer showed his softer side with a delicate effort midway through the second period but Carson was alert to the danger.

Beast Mode had not been fully activated but it flickered on briefly again when the big striker produced a moment of magic and rattled the bar with a surprise snap-shot.

Moments later he was clean through one-on-one with Carson. Showing composure, the Beast beat the keeper but not the post and Wimbledon had to travel back down the M4 with just a single point.

AFC Wimbledon: Shea, Fuller, Bennett, Barrett, Smith, Francomb (Beere, 82), Bulman, Moore, Rigg, Tubbs (Azeez, 85), Akinfenwa.

Subs (not used): Frampton, Sainte-Luce, Nicholson, McDonnell, Harrison.