Dons mugged as Shrewsbury Town snatch last-gasp winner to nab all three points

By Paul Lagan at Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium

AFC Dons 0 v Shrewsbury Town 1

AFC Wimbledon were mugged in the final minute in what was otherwise a dour, drab match against Shrewsbury Town at the Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium.

With the game drifting out to a predictable 0-0 draw, Josh Vela produced a pinpoint corner and Leon Clarke was at the far post to smash home an undeserved winner with is head.

It was a surprise as the vistors, for all their possession during the previous 85 minutes had not produced an effort that could be called a chance on goal.

The home side had only themselves to blame for not putting this League One encounter in west London to bed.

They had two reasonably good first half chances from Joe Piggot and Steve Seddon, but both times, they were thwarted by Shrews stopper Dayan Lliev. Lliev agains produced a wonderful save to prevent Piggot when the striker let fly in the second half. The ball was tipped over the crossbar.

The visitors, without a win so far in the league, started the opening phase of the game well. They dominated possession forcing the home side to sit back and absorb the pressure.

But the first effort on goal fell to the Dons, when Joe Pigott produced a powerful header on 16 minutes after a brilliant, deep Steve Seddon left wing cross duped the Shrews centre-backs. But goalkeeper Deyan Lliev did well to snatch the ball from just under his crossbar.

Ryan Longman was inches wide of the Shrews goal on 30 mi utes, when the home side struck quickly, Piggot fed Longman on the left and he zipped a low drive across Lliev but the ball went just wide of the goalkeeper’s left post.

Two minutes later and after Ethan Eubanks-Landell’s air shot allowed Piggot to snatch the ball. It was fed out to Shane McLoughlin and his right-footed blaster from 20 yards was goal-bound, but deflected to safety.

Brentford loanee Jaakko Oksanen was the first Dons player into the ref’s book seven minutes before the break for a needless, rugged challenge.

Two minutes later and Lliev was on show again, this time he managed to get a boot to a low angled drive by Seddon, to thwart the wide player.

Jason Cummings almost scored within seconds of the restart, but the Shrews man’s turn and shot on the side yard box was deflected away for a corner by Terrell Thomas.

Sam Ricketts the Shrews manager was shown a yellow card, presumably for dissent on 53 minutes.

Lliev produced the save of the match on 72 minutes when the Arsenal loanee managed to tip over his crossbar a thumping long-range shot by Piggot.

Ethan Chislett tried his luck with 12 minutes left on the clock, but his edge of the penalty area shot went high over Lliev’s crossbar.

But just as the clock ticked over into the 91st minute, Josh Vela sent over a deep corner and Leon Clark headed home from close range at the far post to secure the three points from the visitors.

Teams:

AFC Dons:

1 Connal Trueman,

2 Luke O’Neill,

3 Daniel Csoka,

4 Alex Woodyard,

6 Terrell Thomas,

11 Ethan Chislett,

16 Jaakko Oksanen,

19 Shane McLoughlin,

29 Ryan Longman,

39 Joe Pigott,

42 Steve Seddon.

Subs,

13 Nikola Tzanev,

7 Cheyenne Alexander,

10 Adam Roscrow,

12 Jack Rudoni,

18 Nesta Guinness-Walker,

30 Paul Kalambayi,

33 Callum Reilly.

Shrewsbury Town:

33 Deyan Lliev,

5 Ro-Shaun Williams,

24 Ethan Eubanks-Landell,

2 Aaron Pierre,

3 Scott Golbourne,

8 Oliver Norburn,

13 Jan Zamburek,

10 Josh Vela,

35 Jason Cummings,

11 Leon Clarke,

19 Ryan Barnett

Subs:

1 Harry Burgoyne,

25 Scott High,

16 Brad Walker,

22 Joshua Daniels,

20 Shilow Tracey,

23 Daniel Udoh,

30 Charlie Caton