Wimbledon kept at bay by Morecambe

AFC Wimbledon failed to claim the three points that their performance just about deserved at a rainswept Kingsmeadow on Saturday.

The Dons, off the back of a poor midweek reverse at League Two basement boys Northampton Town, showed plenty of hard work and commitment to come from behind yet again, but Rashid Yussuff’s 75th-minute equaliser was the only reward for their endeavours.

It was Wimbledon who enjoyed the lions share of possession and shots in the first half. Sammy Moore had the first attempt on goal, a wayward effort from the edge of the area, before both Yusseff and top scorer Jack Midson went considerably closer, the latter’s drive stinging the palms of visiting keeper Barry Roche.

Sam Hatton also had a shot cleared off the line when Roche failed to deal with two successive corners, and the on-loan Jason Euell failed to convert, a poor touch taking the ball away from him following good work from Chris Bush.

Morecambe had largely failed to trouble home keeper Seb Brown but they had shown plenty of endeavour coming forward, with their best chance seeing Andrew Fleming failing to get a touch on a Laurence Wilson cross.

And it was the visitors, who sat two places above the Dons at the start of play, who took the lead early in the second half.

A long ball from Roche fell kindly for Stuart Drummond on the right wing, and his cross was met by the head of the unmarked Gary McDonald, whose header left Brown with no chance.

To their credit, the Dons rallied well in torrential conditions. Billy Knott curled a free kick just over, while Hatton and George Moncur both saw shots charged down by a resolute Morecambe defence.

Just as it looked like Wimbledon were heading for their ninth home defeat of the season, Yussuff spared their blushes.

A neat one-two on the edge of the area with Jack Midson sent the Dons midfielder clear, and he finished through Roche’s legs.

Wimbledon spent the last moments on the match piling pressure on the Morecambe defence, but it was the visitors who twice came close to stealing all three points on the break, with Wilson and top scorer Kevin Ellison driving the ball past Brown but inches wide of the far post.

In truth the Dons edged the game, but the two late chances for Morecambe made it feel like a point gained for the home side, rather than two dropped.

AFC Wimbledon: Brown, Hatton, Bush, Moore, Mitchel-King, Stuart, Yusseff, Moncur, Midson, Harrison (Jolley 61), Euell (Knott 61)

Attendance: 3,964 (159 from Morecambe)

My man of the match: Jamie Stuart

Adam Harwood is a contributor for Bleacher Report. Unless otherwise stated, all quotes were sourced first hand.