Controversial Goal Denies Wimbledon A Win
Coventry City 2 v Wimbledon 2
A controversial injury-time equaliser denied Wimbledon victory as they were held to a 2-2 draw at Coventry City on Wednesday (28 September).
The match was deep into time added on when Andre Wright’s goal was allowed to stand, despite the Coventry man being in a clear offside position when picking up a forward ball by former Wimbledon youth star Dan Agyei.
Boss Neal Ardley was understandably upset with the match officials afterwards. ‘It’s hard enough to take when there is an offside once, but the second goal was offside twice.
‘The officials are blatantly not doing their jobs for it to be offside twice and it has cost us two points. You expect people to get key decisions right.’
But the Dons manager also criticised his own side for their lethargic start to this match. ‘We were fortunate to come in at 1-1 for half-time because [Coventry] were much better with their intensity.
‘I thought in the second half we were much better.’
The Dons made the worst start possible to this match, falling behind in the third minute. After Paul Robinson’s header from an attacking corner was blocked, the home side picked up the ball and charged the length of the pitch before Kyel Reid’s shot was spilled by James Shea leaving Marvin Sordell to convert.
The home side continued to dominate, with Jordan Willis forcing a save from Shea, although Robinson did see one volley deflected narrowly over for the Dons.
But it was still largely against the run of play when Wimbledon equalised. Dean Parrett’s free-kick from deep was headed back into the danger area by Tyrone Barnett and Jon Meades got his own cranium to the ball to nod it home.
That prompted Coventry towards new vigour, and Marcus Tudgay wasted a clean-cut chance by blasting over when he should have done better and Shea forced to save from Sordell.
The second period continued in much the same manner, with Reid going close with a long-range effort only narrowly off target as the home side maintained the pressure.
So it was fortunate for the Dons when they took the lead with just seven minutes remaining. Meades met Tom Beere’s corner with a header that was spectacularly saved by Reice Charles-Cook, only for Lyle Taylor to pounce to head home his second goal in as many matches and put the Dons ahead.
But just when it looked like the Dons would return to London with the three points, Wright’s controversial equaliser forced them to reassess their expectations.
Ardley’s men will be hoping for better luck when they entertain Gillingham at Kingsmeadow this Saturday (1 October) before travelling to Oxford on Sunday 9 October for a televised game.
Coventry: Charles-Cook, Sterry, Willis, Turnbull, Page, Stevenson (Jones 70), Bigirimana, Reid (Agyei 77), McCann, Tudgay (Wright 85), Sordell. Subs not used: Burge, Lameiras, Gadzhev, Ricketts.
Goalscorers: Sordell 2, Wright 94.
Booked: Willis 72, McCann 81, Sordell 98.
Wimbledon: Shea, Fuller, Charles, Robinson, Meades, Parrett (Beere 73), Bulman, Reeves, Barcham (Poleon 79), Barnett (Elliott 63), Taylor. Subs not used: Whelpdale, Kelly, McDonnell, Robertson.
Goalscorers: Meades 37, Taylor 83.
Booked: Robinson 55.
Att: 8,030.
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October 8, 2016
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