Maynard’s wait for first home win goes on as the Dons enjoy late show

TWO goals in the final 10 minutes condemned Notts County to a 2-0 home defeat against AFC Wimbledon in League Two.

Substitute Connell Rawlinson’s own goal saw the visitors lead late on, with on-loan Kofi Balmer’s header doubling the Magpies woes, leaving them winless at home in 2024.

For Magpies boss Stuart Maynard, the wait for a first victory at Meadow Lane continues, having lost his fourth consecutive fixture since his move from Wealdstone.

Maynard said: “I think we were in control of the game with the ball, I don’t think we could have been in any more control.

“But it’s getting to the point where we are at. It’s been happening all season with these types of goals we keep conceding, which is so frustrating.

“It gets to a point where we’re not really equipped to deal with these teams’ threats and what they put in the box.”

Both of Wimbledon’s goals came from set-pieces on the afternoon, something that again frustrated Maynard, insisting his side are doing everything they can to rectify the issue to keep their play-off hopes alive.

He added: “We have to keep sticking together as a group and working on it on the training ground but ultimately it’s very hard to deal with teams’ threats in this league.

“At the minute and through the course of the whole season, we’ve not been able to deal with it.”

The Dons almost found themselves in front within the first minute when Omar Bugiel saw the ball land at his feet inside the area, firing his shot over the crossbar.

Macaulay Langstaff squandered the best chance of the half after a neat one-two inside the area, only to place his effort well over.

The hosts’ top scorer almost made amends early in the second half but was unable to turn home Aaron Nemane’s delivery on the line.

Johnnie Jackson’s side would take the lead late on when Balmer’s throw-in was turned beyond his own goalkeeper by Rawlinson.

The lead was doubled five minutes later, with Ronan Curtis’ delivery from a corner was headed powerfully beyond Sam Slocombe by Balmer for the Northern Ireland international’s first goal for Wimbledon since he joined on loan from Crystal Palace.

Dons manager Johnnie Jackson described his side’s performance as ‘vintage’ as the visitors celebrated only their sixth success away from home.

“I think it was vintage Wimbledon,” said Jackson. “It was a brilliant away performance and everything you want and expect from a Wimbledon team.

“They showed graft, hard work for the shirt, (were) very disciplined.

“We came with a game plan and the lads were outstanding in carrying it out.”

It was the third consecutive time Wimbledon had kept a clean sheet this season, something Jackson insisted was pivotal against a side with the attacking qualities of the Magpies.

“I am delighted, that is now three clean sheets in a row,” Jackson added.

“We have been defending very well but you know coming here with the players that they have got, you are going to have to do that for sure.

“They are a good team and move the ball well and they have got lots of threats at the top end of the pitch, so if you don’t defend properly here you can become really unstuck.

“The moments they did have with the balls coming into the box, we dealt with it, but our defensive structure starts from the front and to a man they did it brilliantly.”