Shrewsbury Town 1 AFC Wimbledon 1 – Assal scores first senior goal as Dons snatch a draw at the death

BY DAVE HUNT-JACKSON

Substitute Ayoub Assal grabbed his first senior goal and an unlikely point for AFC Wimbledon.

The Dons were by far the better side for the majority of the opening period, pressing Shrewsbury high up the pitch, and as a result they forced mistake after mistake from their hosts and enjoying a territorial advantage as well as having more of the possession,

But for all their efforts the South Londoners found themselves behind at half time – and not for the first time to the only attacking moment of any note from their opposition.

Wimbledon will have been very disappointed with the goal as a short  corner was played to the feet of Shrewsbury substitute Harry Chapman and his shot beat Sam Walker from 25 yards out. Why Chapman was not closed down is one issue and the ease with which he was able to beat such a big keeper is another.

The second-half was all Shrewsbury and they had two goals ruled out by the officials that would have put them out of sight.

If the opener had been against the run of play then so was the equaliser, as in a rare forward foray Joe Pigott headed down for substitute Assal to bundle the ball past Matija Sarkic in the Shrews goal.

With neither side able to find a winner the Dons’ return to South London with a vital point in their scrap for League One survival.

PHOTOS: SEAN GOSLING