Proud Brown: We had the chances to see-off Stevenage (From Sutton Guardian)

Proud Brown: We had the chances to see-off Stevenage

7:54pm Monday 28th December 2009

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Stevenage Borough 0-0 AFC Wimbledon

Fearless AFC Wimbledon kept title-chasing Stevenage at bay to take a fully deserved point from Broadhall Way.

Hit by a catalogue of injuries, the Dons excellent recent form continues despite having seven first team regulars unavailable.

Wimbledon in fact had the game’s better chances – with Boro goalkeeper Chris Day saving Graham Westley’s side in either half with two top-drawer saves.

And despite dropping points for the first time in five weeks, stopping rampant Stevenage in their tracks reinforces play-off optimism at Kingsmeadow.

Manager Terry Brown said: “Sometimes the word proud is a bit overused in football but I had that feeling today.

“I am really, really proud. We had what I would class as seven first team certainties out today. To come to a place like Stevenage, in the form that they are in, and not only match them but have the game’s better chances is a fantastic achievement.

“Seb Brown has not had a massive amount to do. OK, they put us under a lot of pressure late on but you expect that in these circumstances.

“It wouldn’t have surprised me if they had nicked a late goal but every one of my players stood up and we gave them a lot to think about. It’s a very good point but we came close to all three.

“It was a great performance, the last of a fantastic year.”

Danny Kedwell’s foot injury deprived Wimbledon of their figurehead leading scorer but replacement Ross Montague more than filled the frontman’s boots.

But for ex-QPR star Day, the striker would have been celebrating an early goal after heading Sam Hatton’s cross towards the top corner. The Boro goalkeeper didn’t read the script and clawed the goal-bound effort away.

Stevenage’s targetman Chris Beardsley should have put the hosts ahead after 26 minutes but he couldn’t keep his free-header on target after Ronnie Henry eased past Derek Duncan.

Montague, a summer signing, then had a turn-and-shot bundled off the line by Jon Ashton before his firm header rattled Day’s crossbar.

The second half was tense and Wimbledon – roared on by nearly 1,000 fans behind the goal – almost grabbed the advantage midway into it.

Ever-improving Ricky Wellard roamed forward and his low drive was turned to safety by Day, only for the referee to somehow award a goal kick as both players’ efforts went without reward.

Boro went for it in the final quarter but the Dons makeshift backline – including right-back Jay Conroy at centre-half – held strong.

“Jay came on and didn’t look out of place,” Brown added. “We had to change things when Derek got injured with Brett (Johnson) reverting to left-back.

“And I must say Paul Lorraine was again superb. He picked up an injury as well but you’d never, ever have got the skipper off that pitch!”

But after, the manager announced he could be without the services of midfielder Steven Gregory for up to a month.

But Brown believes Kedwell has “half a chance” for the New Year’s Day visit to Hayes.

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