AFC Wimbledon 0-0 Cambridge United

Terry Brown declared himself thrilled with a point after today’s goalless draw with Cambridge United.

The Wimbledon manager admits his side were second best as last year’s beaten Blue Square Premier play-off finalists had the better of the chances at Kingsmeadow this afternoon.

But Brown believes his side have yet to be out-played in their new surrounding – and praised their ability to dig deep in the final 20 minutes of matches as they could have snatched the points six minutes from time.

Attacker Luke Moore missed the chance to seal a noteworthy win when he mis-controlled Ross Montague’s pass. That gave United keeper Danny Potter a vital second to narrow the angle with the forward clean through.

But the Wimbledon manager refused to rue the missed opportunity with the away team on top.

He said: “Cambridge came here and attacked us but we held firm and didn’t let ourselves down.

“I certainly think it was one point gained not two lost against a very good team. They showed how good they were going forward and we struggled to get a hold of them for the first half hour.

“I thought they caused us allsorts of problems, especially in the first half. The runs (Chris) Holroyd made killed our defenders at times.

“This league is still a learning curve for us. At times they looked better than us but what really pleased me – and it was the same in the home matches with Luton and Oxford as well – was that at times we were outplayed but still kept fighting.

“In the last 20 minutes of all those matches we looked like scoring goals and we did today.

“The game didn’t warrant a 0-0. Cambridge are a great side who will be in the play-offs no doubt about it.

“It’s up to us to try and work as hard as we can to join them and stay on the coattails of the big four.

“We gave a full debut to Seb Brown and he rode his luck a little. I’m delighted he got a clean sheet although how Danny Crow missed the chance (he gave him) I don’t know!

“But today was another positive performance. It’s a good point.”

Crow should have put the away side into a deserved lead when keeper Brown – in for the injured James Pullen – made a hash of a routine through ball.

Striker Crow took it round the 19-year-old but somehow couldn’t apply the finish with the home fans fearing the worst.

Wimbledon bucked up their ideas and it needed a great tackle from Cambridge defender Anthony Tonkin to deny Sam Hatton after Luke Moore’s great run down the left-hand side of the penalty area.

The second half was low-key but both teams had chances to win it.

Brett Johnson couldn’t direct his header on target and Jai Reason was denied a goal only by a great last-ditch intervention by Jay Conroy.

Moore then fluffed his lines with six minutes on the clock but that would have been harsh on well-organised Cambridge.

Their manager Martin Ling said after: “I think we were the better side and Terry Brown I know has said the same.

“We had the better chances and really should have taken at least one of them. Only Danny Crow knows how he missed that when Wimbledon’s keeper made that mistake in the first half.”