Match report: York City 1, AFC Wimbledon 1

PLAYING Wimbledon, it really should have been a case of game, set and match York City once Jamie Reed opened the scoring in Saturday’s first round FA Cup tie.

Aside from the odd raid down the right by winger Christian Jolley, the Wombles rarely threatened in the final third of the pitch and seemed content to sit deep, pack the midfield and frustrate their higher-placed League Two hosts.

That approach appeared flawed when Reed, brought on only three minutes earlier following a timely switch to 4-4-2, netted for the first time since March to end a personal drought of 12 games just past the hour mark.

It seemed doubtful that the visitors would be able to change their game plan and, having made the breakthrough, a bigger margin of victory for the Minstermen looked the most likely final outcome.

But, after failing to take advantage of a dominant quarter of an hour following Reed’s goal, Gary Mills’ men grew careless on the edge of their own penalty box, conceding two free-kicks in as many minutes – the second of which led to Wimbledon’s scarcely-deserved equaliser.

Following on from draws against Doncaster, Exeter and Bradford, the goal represented the fourth time City have been pegged back for a share of the spoils this season after taking the lead.

It also means Mills’ team will now need to make a 450-mile midweek round trip for a second stab at progress in the world’s most famous knockout competition.

Prior to Reed’s 62nd-minute strike, a replay had always looked possible, especially during a first half that was bordering on the tedious at times.

From the first of 14 corners forced by City – the Dons managed just one in the 90th minute – Clarke Carlisle headed over following Danny Kearns’ delivery to the near post.

At the other end, right-back Jim Fenlon drove wide from 25 yards and Louis Harris’ free-kick was plucked out of the air comfortably and confidently by Michael Ingham.

On 20 minutes, City skipper Chris Smith, displaying admirable footwork for a centre-back, fashioned a chance for himself in a crowded penalty box with a smart Cruyff turn before seeing his deflected deft chip drop inches over the crossbar.

Kearns also saw a left-wing cross brush against Seb Brown’s crossbar but that was the sum of City’s attacking efforts before the break, while Dons striker Jack Midson had the best chance of the first period on the stroke of half-time.

Quick to pounce on a loose ball 30 yards from goal, Midson headed for the penalty box before unleashing a shot that Ingham parried away.

After the break, left-back Warren Cummings failed to test Ingham with an ambitious 35-yard effort, but Midson went closer when he fired wide from the edge of the box on 55 minutes.

In response, Smith headed wide from ten yards from Dan Parslow’s right-wing cross and Jason Walker, drifting in from the left flank, saw a 20-yard attempt dip narrowly over Brown’s crossbar.

By then, Walker had been given some welcome central assistance in the shape of Reed to combat the Dons’ twin towers of strength Yado Mambo and Will Antwi and the next attack saw the City strikers combine to break the deadlock.

Following a poor Brown clearance, Scott Kerr won the ball in midfield and threaded a pass through to Walker who, having shrugged off the challenge of Mambo, found himself clear through on the Wimbledon ’keeper’s goal.

With Reed unmarked to his right, Walker chose a square pass to his team-mate rather than shooting himself, leaving the former Bangor City striker with the easy task of rolling the ball into an empty net from ten yards.

Walker should have got on the scoresheet himself two minutes later but headed wide from six yards after rising unchallenged to meet Kearns’ corner.

The former Luton and Barrow forward also saw a sidefooted 15-yard effort shovelled unconvincingly away to safety by Brown before Matty Blair embarked on a remarkable run that saw him travel with the ball from deep into his own half to the edge of the visitors’ six-yard until he was eventually stopped in his tracks by Mambo.

Blair, though, was the first to give away a free-kick in a dangerous position on 78 minutes but Rashid Yussuff’s curling shot only required a routine save from Ingham.

The City ’keeper was left helpless, however, two minutes later after Carlisle was penalised for climbing on Midson’s back.

Charlie Strutton, taking marginally longer than fellow second-half substitute Reed to find the net following his introduction, drove low and hard from 25 yards and, when his effort deflected off the City defensive wall, the ball spun over the line after hitting Ingham’s left-hand upright.

City immediately foraged forward in search of a second goal but Walker curled over a 20-yard free-kick and Reed also aimed too high from closer in after Mambo had failed to clear.

On 84 minutes, Walker was denied by a remarkable reflex save from Brown when he headed powerfully for goal from four yards after Smith had helped on a Kearns corner.

Reed then fired across the face of goal after cutting inside from the right as the Minstermen headed for the final whistle having drawn their ninth of 19 fixtures in 2012/13.

Match facts

York City 1 (Reed 62), AFC Wimbledon 1 (Strutton 80)

York City:

Michael Ingham 7 
Made a vital save for his team on the stroke of half-time and powerless to prevent equaliser.

Dan Parslow 7
So strong defensively that the Dons never made any inroads down the left flank.

Chris Smith 8
STAR MAN – determined defending from the skipper, who also twice went close to getting on the scoresheet.

Clarke Carlisle 7
Rose to the physical challenge but was clumsy when conceding the free-kick that led to Wimbledon’s leveller.

Jamal Fyfield 7
Given a few early scares by Jolley’s pace but settled and contributed in an attacking sense as well.

Scott Kerr 8
Getting stronger, confident in possession and always picked the right pass, most crucially in the build-up for Reed’s goal.

Danny Kearns 8
Probed and drove his team forward during an otherwise subdued first half from the hosts.

Paddy McLaughlin 6
Struggled to find space to express himself in a congested midfield before being replaced.

Matty Blair 7
Exploded into life with an unbelievable 72nd-minute run, but one of his quieter displays otherwise.

Jason Walker 7
Unlucky not to get on the scoresheet, and made the right and unselfish decision for Reed’s goal.

Ashley Chambers 6
Had Wimbledon back-pedalling nervously at times but end product was less threatening.

Subs: Jamie Reed 7 – eager (for McLaughlin, 59), Oli Johnson (for Chambers, 90).

Subs not used: Musselwhite, Oyebanjo, McGurk, J Smith, Challinor.

AFC Wimbledon: Seb Brown, Jim Fenlon (Curtis Osano, 74), Yado Mambo, Will Antwi, Warren Cummings, Christian Jolley, Rashid Yussuff, Steven Gregory, Louis Harris (Byron Harrison, 46), Luke Moore (Charlie Strutton, 74), Jack Midson.

Subs not used: Mat Mitchel-King, Callum McNaughton, Huw Johnson, Mikhael Jaimez-Ruiz.

Star man: Jolley – gave City their only real scares in open play.

Referee: Richard Clark (Amble).

Rating: 7/10 – gave little cause for complaint.

Booked: Antwi 58.

Sent off: None.

Attendance: 2,752 (285 away fans).

Shots on target: City 7, Wimbledon 6.

Shots off target: City 9, Wimbledon 4.

Corners: City 14, Wimbledon 1.

Fouls conceded: City 11, Wimbledon 11.

Offsides: City 4, Wimbledon 2.