Neal lets rip as his Dons are frustrated
AFC WIMBLEDON failed to register a single shot on target in defeat to York City but manager Neal Ardley barely missed with a volley of postmatch criticisms of his side.
The Dons were second best throughout their home defeat to York with their only saving grace the fact that the visitors only managed to struck once.
Michael Coulson scored the game’s only goal with a stooping firsthalf header but Ryan Bowman missed the most glaring of a string of other chances.
Bowman fired wide from six yards with an open goal gaping and while Ardley felt his side should have had the free-kick from which York did score, the Dons boss was even more angry with his own side’s display.
“I’ve just told them in there that it’s not good enough. It’s so far from good enough, it’s ridiculous,” he said.
“We prep really well for these games and I feel let down personally and that’s not me passing the buck. I’m the manager of the football club but I can’t win the battles on the pitch for the players.
“We moved the ball too slowly, we were nervous in the way we played which seems to be a common thing at home and I don’t know why.
“The goal is a ludicrous decision from the referee. He’s tripped our player up and then given them a free kick. That’s why I was furious and he knew it. It’s up to us then to defend the second phase and we didn’t do it.”
Coulson threatened from an early York corner when he reacted fast to fire a shot at goal but Ross Worner was equal to it.
Danny Hylton had already seen one shot blocked and then fired wide on 31 minutes before Worner was required to save another Coulson effort.
The Minstermen took the lead four minutes before the break when Lanre Oyebanjo lifted the ball back in for Coulson to head home.
York were denied a penalty when Josh Carson’s shot appeared to be blocked by an arm before Bowman missed an open goal from six yards on 73 minutes. York boss Nigel Worthington praised match-winner Coulson, who had been out of favour earlier this season.
“It was important that we didn’t come here and get caught up in the ‘Wimbledon way’ they’re very much in your face and very committed but we played our own game,” he said.
“Michael has been frustrated at not being in the team but that’s part and parcel of football.
“He’s kept his head down and worked hard and he’s got his opportunity up front.”