There’s an area of Bucks that AFC Wimbledon don’t mind visiting

Whilst Buckinghamshire is not a word that AFC Wimbledon fabs may like to hear in conversation, their visits to the South of the county have reaped rewards in the past. In six previous visits to Adams Park, the Dons have won five times with the victory in 2012 marking the end of Gary Waddock’s tenure at Wycombe and the 3-0 triumph in January 2014 being a particular low point of Gareth Ainsworth’s reign.
Wanderers were at least able to stop the rot with a last-minute penalty but nonetheless, Wimbledon became only the third side to take anything from a trip to Wycombe this season.

I’m dreaming of a wet Christmas: Adams Park was soaked on Saturday afternoon

Wycombe can be played at their own game

Less than 50% possession? Limiting the opposition to few chances? Getting the ball forward quickly? Implementing dark arts like kicking the ball away and having the fans being reluctant to give it back from the stands? These are exactly the sort of tactics that Wycombe are known to employ, and yet it was the visitors who did all that, and more, to great effect in the rain in High Wycombe. They even went so far as to score a last-minute winner…or so they thought.

You can have a notion of four points being dropped

The two sides may have ended up with a point apiece, yet they will both feel that the result marks two dropped. Wimbledon had chances to put Wycombe out of sight, hitting the post twice and forcing David Stockdale in the Wycombe goal into more than his fair share of decent saves. And when you take the lead in injury time, you should expect to end the game victorious.

Wycombe meanwhile were wasteful in the first half and after making it 1-1 were unable to turn the momentum the goal gave them into a lead. Despite equalizing with one of the last kicks of the game, Gareth Ainsworth still said afterwards that it felt like a game Wycombe could have won.

It was ultimately the first draw at Adams Park since February – ending a run of 22 competitive league and cup games.

The last dance has a new first

Adebayo Akinfenwa is in his final season but is still doing a job for Wycombe and he scored his fourth goal of the campaign against his former club. He now has 50 Wycombe goals comprising of 4 with his left foot and 26 headers. His superb strike against Wimbledon was his 20th with his right foot but his very first, with any part of his body, from outside of the box.

The strike makes him Wycombe’s oldest ever EFL goalscorer, overtaking a certain G. Ainsworth.

Paul Osew is one to watch

The diminutive Wimbledon defender had an eventful afternoon – he played a key role in Wimbledon’s opener and yet his attempted rugby tackle on Sullay Kaikai resulted in Wycombe being awarded the decisive last-minute penalty. In between, Osew, playing on the right side of a back four, was a thorn in Wycombe’s side using his pace to turn defence into attack. At just 21-years old, the former Dons youth-teamer is definitely a player to keep an eye out for.

WYCOMBE WANDERERS 2 (Akinfenwa 74, Jacobson 90+6pen)
AFC WIMBELDON 2 (Rudoni 4, 90+2)
ATT: 4,915 (Away 742)

words Phil Slatter, D3D4 Chairboys writer