Johnnie Jackson mentioned his AFC Wimbledon gamers put their our bodies on the road to safe a 1-0 benefit of their League Two play-off semi-final towards Notts County.
The hosts thought they need to have had a penalty within the fourth minute for a Joe Lewis handball inside the realm, however referee Thomas Kirk waved play on.
Wimbledon’s first likelihood of the sport got here within the thirty fourth minute when former Dons loanee Alex Bass received down effectively from his left to cease Ryan Johnson’s glancing header from a nook.
Notts County had been then halted of their advances to open the impasse, with Owen Goodman pushing away Conor Grant’s strike inside the realm.
Goodman was as soon as once more in the beginning of the second half to disclaim Grant, who arrived on a David McGoldrick go contained in the field. Riley Harbottle was readily available to disclaim Alassana Jatta a tap-in from the unfastened ball just some yards from objective.
Harbottle then gave Wimbledon the lead within the 59th minute when James Tilley’s cross was despatched into the 18-yard field and the previous Colchester loanee was given area to go previous Bass.
That sparked the tie into life and moments later, Jodie Jones crashed a shot off the put up from distance as Stuart Maynard’s facet went searching for an equaliser.
Grant had his greatest likelihood to attain with three minutes of regular time remaining when he was slipped clear via on objective, however after inserting the ball excessive of Goodman, Josh Neufville received again to cease the ball going over the road and discovering a late equaliser.
There was late drama within the ninety fifth minute as County’s key striker Jatta was issued with a straight pink card for a foul on Alistair Smith in the midst of the pitch.
The Gambian ahead, who has 19 League Two objectives this season, can be suspended for the conflict in South London.
The return leg will happen at Plough Lane subsequent Saturday lunchtime.
“I cherished my workforce’s efficiency,” mentioned Jackson.
“I believed we had been very, excellent. We needed to endure a bit they usually’re workforce. They’ve good gamers and we knew they might put us below a little bit of stress – we needed to cope with that.
“We had some actually good moments and scored the one objective of the sport. Once we needed to defend, we made blocks, tackles and Owen has pulled off an unbelievable save within the first half.
“I’m actually happy with how we went about it. The angle of my gamers is what happy me probably the most.
“They’re facet and also you’re by no means going to have it your individual method. We caught to the plan and the boys put their our bodies on the road.
“We’re going to wish to do this once more at our place as a result of they’re coming with an angle that they’re coming to win.
“They may throw the whole lot at us once more and we should be able to do what we’ve got completed tonight, another time.”
PICTURE: ALAMY
