8:41am Tuesday 25th March 2008
By Peter Randall
Carshalton Athletic 0 AFC Wimbledon 2
With their playing resources stretched to the limit, the Robins' make-shift side fought gamely to contain a Dons team who have had their own problems of late.
A goal in each half by Steve Ferguson, the second in the dying moments of the game, was enough to enable the promotion contenders to repeat the two-goal defeat inflicted on the Robins at Christmas.
On a heavy pitch, following a lunchtime snowfall, the Robins created the first serious chance, when Carpenter's ball in from the left picked out Phil Ruggles in the area with only goalkeeper Pullen in front of him, but the AFC stopper stood his ground and blocked the shot.
Rob Ursell also went close against his old club, but his placed shot after beating his marker passed narrowly wide of the upright.
Wimbledon began to turn the screw at the other end and stand-in Robins keeper Richard Barnard, a late replacement for the injured Aaron Howe, was soon in the thick of the action as crosses rained in from both flanks.
Their pressure was rewarded on 22 minutes when a through ball by Alfie Potter beat the Robins offside trap and Ferguson made no mistake with a low shot as he cut in from the right.
Shortly after Daniel Webb had a similar opportunity, but his effort passed wide of the far post to the relief of the hard pressed Robins defence.
Carshalton's cause suffered a further setback on the half-hour when Dean Carpenter slid off the pitch and collided with the perimeter fence.
He resumed after several minutes' treatment and Stuart Harte tested Pullen with a well-flighted cross that the keeper tipped over for a corner.
When the ball came in form the left a poor clearance fell to Ursell, who again shot just wide.
Late in the half Carpenter was forced off with his injury to be replaced by Simon Cooper, forcing the Robins to reshuffle their defence for the remaining minutes of the half.
Substitute Cooper showed up well in the early stages of the half.
A long-range drive was clutched at the near post by Pullen although the referee's whistle had already been blown for an offside decision, and at the other end a well-timed tackle took the ball off the feet of Potter as he advanced into the area.
Ruggles fed an astute ball to Johnson, who was marginally offside and Robert Quinn incurred the displeasure of the official for a second bad tackle, on this occasion on Johnson.
Zak Graham was brought on to replace Johnson and had an early chance when Evans delivered a cross on to his head, but his goal attempt was misdirected.
As the half wore on, the superior fitness of the visitors began to tell, but Barnard's timing and judgement proved the match of everything that AFC could throw at him and his debut became more impressive as the game progressed, particularly with a point-blank save from AFC's Haswell who was the prompter of most of the visitors best work.
Late in the game the Robins staged something of a come-back and the Dons' nerves began to show after conceding two late goals on Friday.
Henry and Graham set up Ursell for a shot that was blocked at the expense of a corner and Evans delivery was met by the head of Lewis Gonsalves only to be cleared off the line.
When the ball was partially cleared to Ruggles, his attempted drive flew high and wide.
The cruel side of the game came to the fore in the final minute when a break by the Dons featuring Cumbers and Ferguson ended with Ferguson's shot finally beating Barnard to put the Dons back on track for promotion and the Robins looking for a small miracle.
Robins: Barnard, Harte (Plummer), Carpenter (Cooper), Graves, Gonsalves, York, Henry, Evans, Ruggles, Ursell, Johnson (Graham).
Sub not used: Standen, Hall.
Next gamesSaturday, March 29 (3pm): Leyton v Carshalton Athletic, Ryman League Premier DivisionSaturday, April 5 (3pm): Wealdstone v Carshalton Athletic, Ryman League Premier Division
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