AFC Wimbledon 1-1 Cheltenham

Cheltenham Town crashed AFC Wimbledon’s end-of-season party at Kingsmeadow.

The Robins had already been relegated from League Two but flew away with a point and a 1-1 draw to leave AFC Wimbledon to settle for a fifteenth-placed finish.

Darrell Berry gave the visitors the lead just before the half hour after accelerating into the Dons’ box unchallenged before beating James Shea.

But Wimbledon responded with Jack Smith grabbing the equaliser just before half-time heading his effort past Trevor Carson into the bottom corner.

Chances came and went for Wimbledon as Alfie Potter had a handful of opportunities to put the ball past Trevor Carson.

While Adebayo Akinfenwa had a goal ruled out due to a foul in the build-up to the striker’s finish.

The hosts started as the stronger side, Potter running clear on goal before hitting a first-time effort saved well by Carson.

Potter then had another chance moments later; dancing his way into the box, the midfielder fired his shot at goal but Carson was again on hand to stop him scoring.

But as the half-hour mark was approaching Cheltenham Town took the lead, through the unlikely source of Berry.

After Wimbledon lost possession, the right-back burst forward, unchallenged to cannon his shot in-off the post past Shea.

Neal Ardley’s men tried to respond instantly, but Craig Tanner’s header was an easy save for Carson.

Then Akinfenwa won his aerial battle to power his header just wide of the Robins keeper’s far post.

But with moments left in the first half, Wimbledon scored their equaliser through right-back Smith, Potter lofting the ball into the box for Akinfenwa to nod back across into the path of the defender who powered his header into the bottom corner.

The second half started slow as Sean Rigg nearly made his header count grazing the crossbar from a Dons’ free-kick.

Ten minutes remained and Wimbledon thought they had scored; Akinfenwa putting the ball in the net, but the referee ruled it out due to a judged foul in the box.

But as the season came to an end the golden chance fell the hosts way; Rigg making a great solo run before cutting the ball back for Tanner who tested Carson only to see the keeper parry his effort in the air before clawing it away from the poaching feet of George Oakley.

Ardley’s men will feel as though this was a winnable game, and with the chances missed they’ll be wondering how they never achieved it.

Attendance: 4,374

AFC Wimbledon: James Shea, Barry Fuller (C), Jack Snith (Sammy Moore), Tom Beere, Adedeji Oshilaja, Ryan Sweeney, Alfie Potter, Jake Reeves, Craig Tanner (David Fitzpatrick), Adebayo Akinfenwa (George Oakley), Rigg.