AFC Wimbledon 0-1 Bury

AFC Wimbledon endured injury-time heartbreak as they suffered a fourth successive defeat at home to relegation-haunted Bury on Saturday.

Neal Ardley’s side dominated the first half hour of the second half with the excellent Danny Hylton going close on more than one occasion, only to be undone by Danny Mayor’s counter-attack strike in the last minute of additional time

Newly arrived Scunthorpe loanee Michael Collins was one of two changes to the starting line-up from last Saturday’s defeat at Portsmouth, the other seeing Barry Fuller return from injury.

As a result Luke Moore dropped back to the bench while there was no place in the 18 for either Will Antwi or the week’s other new signing Jake Nicholson.

 Dons registered a shot on target in just 50 seconds when George Francombe’s cross from the right was met with a firm header from Hylton, but Brian Jenson was down smartly to save.

The bright start continued as Francombe and Fuller enjoyed success down the right and forcing some early corners which sadly came to nothing.

Sammy Moore saw yellow just 11 minutes in for a late challenge on Daniel Nardiello, but this aside the home side’s tactics of pressing their northern visitors high up the pitch was promising some reward.

It was midway through the half before Dons threatened again, but Jim Fenlon’s shot from distance lacked power and was blocked, while Morris’ follow-up attempt carried more venom but was off target.

Bury had offered little but Nardiello caused concern on 36 minutes when he tricked his way into the right hand side of the box and flashed in a cross-cum-shot, but there was no-one in red to add the final touch and the ball ultimately went out for a throw.

As the quality of the game deteriorated Hylton and Bury’s Frederic Veseli were booked for their parts in a spat, but the sobering statistic was Hylton’s first minute header being the only shot on target from either side in a poor quality half.

Dons made a change at the interval with Harry Pell replacing Fenlon, meaning the versatile Morris dropped into the vacancy at left back.

Again the hosts were first to threaten four minutes in when Ross worner’s long punt was flicked on by Wyke, but Hylton could take the ball in stride and the danger was cleared.

Darren Jones’ deep cross was then spilt by Brian Jensen who needed his defenders to clear.

The visitors’ keeper did much better on 52 minutes racing from goal to block Hylton’s shot to safety after the on-loan Rotherham man had brought Moore’s excellent through-ball down superbly on his chest.

Just seven minutes later Hylton was closer still, latching onto Wyke’s astute flick and firing a low shot which Jensen clawed behind.

Pell’s weak shot was dealt with more comfortably by Jensen, but the pressure from the hosts was mounting and winger Kevin Saint-Luce was let loose in place of Francome with 26 minutes to play.

It took substitute Jean Louis Akpa-Akpro to finally register a shot on target for Bury and when he did it was a venomous drive on 69 minutes which the previously unemployed Worner did well to beat out.

It was a warning shot to the Wombles that they needed to make the most of their superiority and in a bid to find the elusive goal Jack Midson replaced Wyke with 18 minutes to play.

Hylton headed one hanging cross into the arms of Jensen before firing another low effort just wide of the far post with the keeper scrambling.

However, the tide of the game had turned and  Jake Carroll’s shot was deflected behind for a corner which came to nothing was a sign of things to come.

There were more jitters minutes later when substitute Clive Platt got beyond Worner only to demonstrate he had not left foot. The ball was half cleared to Akpa-Akpro who fired the rebound too high.

The hosts were now hanging on and when Akpa-Akpro escaped the cover again with seven minutes left he beat Worner, but clipped the top of the bar.

It looked as if the escape would herald at least a point for the hosts, but the last of four minutes of stoppage time saw the fatal blow was struck.

Again a ball down the right sent Danny Mayor racing clear and though Worner came to meet him the midfield man kept his call to slide the ball beyond him and into the far corner.