NEAL Ardley believes AFC Wimbledon paid the price for a slow start at Cheltenham Town on Saturday.

Steve Elliott and former Birmingham midfielder Darren Carter were on target for the Robins before Dons substitute Brennan Dickenson pulled one back after the hour.

And Wimbledon boss Ardley admitted Dickenson's first goal for the Dons came too late in the day at at Whaddon Road as his side slipped back to the foot of the League Two table.

“I did not think we really got going until an hour into the game, which was disappointing,” said Ardley.

“We knew what they were going to be about and I thought we did not really lay a glove on them for large parts. We should not have been 2-0 down in the first place and I thought that they were two bad goals that we conceded today.

“There are no excuses as we conceded from a set-piece and that is something we have not done for a long time.

“That is something we have worked hard on eradicating and we have to get that out of our systems. It was a poor start and a spirited finish from us, but you cannot just start a match in the second-half.”

Ardley will take comfort from the fact the Wimbledon at least have no midweek to contend with and will be hoping to get back to winning ways against York next Saturday.

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