YORK City suffered a long delay en route to their Sky Bet League Two clash with AFC Wimbledon and then endured more late misery after their eventual arrival at Kingsmeadow.

Traffic problems saw City take one-and-a-quarter hours to travel the eight miles from their overnight hotel to the Wombles’ home ground.

That led to a hurried warm-up before the home side also cut it fine, only claiming maximum points following Jack Smith’s 90th-minute, edge-of-the-box strike.

It was a cruel blow for a Minstermen team who have now tossed away nine points by conceding goals from the 88 minute-mark and onwards in games this term.

Earlier, Jake Hyde levelled the scores on 42 minutes with his eighth goal of the season after Wimbledon had forged in front from a free header by centre-back Adedeji Oshilaja.

For the opening exchanges of the second period, the Minstermen threatened to turn the tables with lively substitute Emile Sinclair – a 13th-minute replacement for the injured Wes Fletcher – failing to find an unguarded net after bursting around home keeper Joe McDonnell.

City began to retreat a little deeper as the game approached its denouement but Smith’s deflected winning effort still served as an ill-deserved finale for Russ Wilcox’s men following a resilient display.

Fletcher made a threatening start to the game with McDonnell diving low to his right to keep out the City striker’s ninth-minute, eight-yard shot on the turn.

The former Burnley forward’s afternoon - and perhaps season - ended prematurely, however, when he clutched his hamstring after setting off to chase a Malvind Benning ball through the left channel.

His departure seemed to hand Wimbledon the initiative for long enough to take a 19th-minute lead.

City largely heeded their manager’s warning not to concede needless set-plays against their opponents – winning the game’s free kick count 22-10 – but, after Sinclair was caught offside cheaply close to the halfway line, the ball was pumped into the visitors’ box and Wimbledon won their first corner.

George Francomb then swung the ball in and an unopposed Oshilaja rose high to plant a firm, downward header into Bobby Olejnik’s bottom right-hand corner from 15 yards.

Moments later, Adebayo Akinfenwa flicked an attempted lob over the bar with the outside of his boot after running on to a long ball by Smith through the left channel, while an off-balance Hyde headed wide at the far post from Josh Carson’s right-wing cross.

Another Francomb flag kick saw Adebayo Azeez head over from four yards on 27 minutes before City settled back into their stride.

Michael Coulson was defeated by the bounce of the ball as he failed to keep an eight-yard opportunity down after Hyde had met Benning’s left-wing cross with his head.

But City were celebrating soon afterwards following a rapid raid down the right by Sinclair.

He outstripped Smith and, when his low cross was spilled by a nervous McDonnell, Carson’s first effort was blocked by Barry Fuller before Hyde’s four-yard follow-up spun into the home keeper’s bottom left-hand corner with the aid of a heavy deflection.

The visitors started the second half in positive fashion with McDonnell forced into a fingertip save following Hyde’s looping header from a Benning cross.

Sinclair’s tenacity and pace then saw him burst clear on the Dons’ goal but, after he rounded McDonnell, he could not find the net from a diminishing angle, using the outside of his right foot to hit the sidenetting when he might have been better trusting his left.

After Azeez saw a deflected eight-yard shot flash past Olejnik’s near post and the same player headed wide from Francomb’s corner, Coulson and Benning both tried their luck with free kicks at the other end.

Coulson’s was gathered down to his right by McDonnell and Benning’s was drilled into the sidenetting just past the hour mark.

City would not manage another goal attempt until after Smith’s strike but Wimbledon were restricted to a couple of half-chances missed by Akinfenwa, a tame header by Mark Phillips and two 20-yard hit-and-hopes from Jake Reeves before the decisive moment.

Substitute Lindon Meikle, on for Carson, slipped which handed fellow replacement Sean Rigg an opportunity to cross in from the left.

His centre was only cleared as far as Smith, who drove into the roof of the net with the aid of a deflection.

Rigg might have added a very flattering third goal but could not lift his shot over an outrushing Olejnik.

In the third minute of stoppage time, Meikle then almost made amends with a cross from right that picked out a charging run from Coulson but his far-post header was smothered by McDonnell.

Following their spot of roadwork bother, there must now be no more diversions during City’s 11-game fight for Football League survival, starting with Saturday’s home match against relegation rivals Carlisle.


Match facts

AFC Wimbledon 2 (Oshilaja 19, Smith 90), York City 1 (Hyde 43)

Bobby Olejnik 7 – kicked better than his Dons counterpart and looked assured

Marvin McCoy 7 – caught napping for his yellow card but reliable in general otherwise

Keith Lowe 8 – kept things tight at the back and matched hosts’ physical approach

Stephane Zubar 8 – commanding and determined on the floor and in the air

Malvind Benning 8 – got forward well and put in dangerous crosses

Michael Coulson 7 – worked hard and almost grabbed late equaliser

Russell Penn 7 – competed manfully. Wore armband and heart on sleeve

Brad Halliday 7 – closed down midfield areas without threatening

Josh Carson 7 – energetic and industrious before making way late on for Meikle

Jake Hyde 8 – STAR MAN in right place for goal again and always a threat

Wes Fletcher – suffered early injury

Subs: Emile Sinclair 7 – rapid (for Fletcher, 13), Lindon Meikle (for Carson, 86).

Subs not used: Tom Platt, Michael Ingham, Femi Ilesanmi, John McCombe, Lewis Montrose.

AFC Wimbledon: Joe McDonnell, Barry Fuller, Adedeji Oshilaja, Mark Phillips, Jack Smith, George Francomb, Jake Reeves, Dannie Bulman, Alfie Potter (Sean Rigg, 62), Adebayo Akinfenwa, Adebayo Azeez (Craig Tanner, 78).

Subs not used: Ross Worner, Sammy Moore, Callum Kennedy, David Fitzpatrick, Ryan Sweeney.

Wimbledon star man: Francomb – always a threat at set-pieces.

Booked: Akinfenwa 72, McCoy 76.

Attendance: 4,086 (442 from City).

Referee: Gary Sutton (Lincoln) rating: 6/10 – looked a little unsure at times.

Shots on target: Wimbledon 6, City 6. Shots off target: Wimbledon 8, City 4.

Corners: Wimbledon 9, City 3.

Fouls conceded: Wimbledon 19, City 7.

Offsides: Wimbledon 3, City 3.