An early Alan Pressley penalty meant Lincoln City fell to a disappointing 1-0 loss at home to AFC Wimbledon.
The teams were sat in 13th and 17th place respectively prior to this evenings contest on a very windy night at LNER Stadium
The game started in a frantic fashion with both teams looking shaky at the back. Only 5 minutes in the visitors earned themselves a penalty when Connor McGrandles felled Luke McCormick in the box which the home fans and players showed their clear disagreement with.
Aaron Pressley calmly dispatched the spot kick into the bottom left corner, despite Josh Griffiths diving the correct way. Nightmare start for the imps. Lincoln City 1-0 AFC Wimbledon.
The game continued in the same frantic, fast-paced fashion with the home fans in great voice despite being a goal down
Encouragement from the fans clearly spurred Lincoln on and they created their first real chance in the 16th minute. Top scorer Anthony Scully beat his man and played a low cross to the back post but Bishop could only stab wide. Bishop again fired off target two minutes later from 25 yards.
The home support were continuing to become frustrated with the Wimbledon players appearing to time waste, despite their being 65 minutes left. Midfielder Anthony Hartigan received a yellow card after only 25 minutes for taking too long to take a corner.
A huge penalty shout from the Imps was waved away by Paul Howard before Lewis Fiorini played on and hit a curling strike which Tzanev did well to palm away.
In the next 10 minutes, Howard showed he was not shy of pulling his cards out giving TJ Eyoma, Henry Lawrence and Lewis Monstma cautions.
It was from the resulting free-kick from Monstsma’s challenge that the visitors nearly doubled their lead, but his 25-yard free kick flew just wide of the left top corner past a worried Griffiths.
The next 10 minutes up to the interval saw continued Wimbledon pressure, in which they had a goal disallowed for offside and the lively Luke McCormick headed over from close range.
Chris Maguire was close to equalizing against the run of play when his fierce volley could only be parried by Tzanev.
HALF TIME: Lincoln City 0-1 AFC Wimbledon.
Michael Appleton decided to make a half time substitution, bringing on Adam Jackson for Joe Walsh in a like for like switch.
In contrast to the end of the first half, the Imps were the side looking the livelier at the start of the second. Fiorini who had looked dangerous in the first 45, hit a sweet half volley from outside the box, but saw his effort fly agonisingly over, and a minute later his effort was deflected wide. Encouraging from Lincoln.
They continued to push forward for the desired equaliser and Scully’s right footed shot nearly beat Tzanev after taking a little touch off a defender’s toe, but the Dons keeper held on to the second attempt. 15 minutes into the second period it had been all Lincoln.
All of Lincoln’s pressure was very nearly undone after giving the ball away unnecessarily in the final third. A heroic last ditch tackle from substitute Adam Jackson on Jack Rudoni saved his side.
The game was continuing in the same fast paced flow and yet another penalty shout, this time for Wimbledon was yet again deemed a fair challenge by Paul Howard.
The Imps were looking the most likely to get the next goal, and determined to score his first for the club, Chris Maguire hit a fizzing drive from 25 yards just wide of the bottom left corner.
As the rain started to pour down and with only 13 minutes left, Appleton looked to his bench and in an attacking change, brought on Southampton loanee Dan Nlundulu for today’s skipper Conor McGrandles.
A heavy challenge from Lewis Fiorini angered the Wimbledon players and coaching staff who wanted a red card for the tackle but the Scotsman escaped with a yellow.
As the time started to tick down the equaliser looked less likely by the minute with Wimbledon clearly happy to defend and take an important 3 points back to London.
The hosts could not find the equaliser they wanted and will feel disappointed with not taking at least a point away from tonight’s match. Lincoln City 0-1 AFC Wimbledon
Lincoln will now look to bounce back on Saturday, with a trip to Hillsborough to face Darren Moore’s Sheffield Wednesday.