The Dons' opening home game ended with a blank score line after a very encouraging first half performance of free flowing football was bookended by second half frustration.

AFC Wimbledon started their opening home game against Ramsgate, with an unchanged 11 from the Carshalton away win. This allowed home fans a first look at the various Dons newcomers in a competitive match.

Steve Wales and Michael Haswell are the new wing backs, with hard tackling Lee Kersey in a back three with captain Butler and Howard. Mark Rooney anchored midfield alongside Wes Daly and Byron Bubb and it was Rooney's deflected shot that forced the first save from visiting keeper Chris May. Up front Roscoe D'Sane and Richard Butler managed goals on the opening day and both looked lively early on - forcing May to leave his area and head clear.

Howard, Butler and Kersey all ventured forward at set pieces and Howard's header forced a smart save from May on 12 minutes.

Benefiting from a quality playing surface, the Dons were playing slick passing football, with the Rams very much on the back foot forced to do little bar defend in depth. Schulz and Suter of the Rams found themselves in the referee's book in the opening quarter as the Rams continued the robust approach as witnessed in last season's cup games against the Dons.

By the 20th minute the visitors had racked up 10 fouls whilst the skilful Dons football was yet to be rewarded. Richard Butler saw a rapier drive touched over by May and Howard sent his header from the resultant corner just wide.

Finally the visitors ventured over the half way line after 22 minutes and instantly looked dangerous. Shaun Welford headed just over when left unmarked at a free kick and Michael Yanni stabbed a shot over soon after.


With wingbacks Haswell and Wales very prominent in attack, the rest of the half belonged exclusively to the Dons. At the end of several passes Wales saw his left foot effort scrambled wide by May and soon after skipper Butler sent a flick header just wide of target.

As the Dons pressed hard for an interval advantage, Rams' defender Schilz seemed guilty of blatant handball under pressure from Richard Butler, but the referee was happy to wave play on.

Looking to keep their temp high, the Dons started the second period looking likely to break the deadlock at any moment.

Half time came with a blank score line but a very encouraging performance of free flowing football from the Dons.

In the opening 10 minutes of the second half, strikers D'Sane and Butler had both forced keeper May in scrambling saves in front of the Tempest Edn.

However thes chances came to nought and the game detiorated into a succession of niggling fouls from the Rams, with the tedium only punctuated by bookings for the visitors' Schilz and Valid, as well as Dons' Wes Daly.

Credit should go to the visitors for changing their formation around the hour mark, leaving only one man up but several willing midfield runners who began to find space at well.

As a consequence the Dons' free flowing attacks dried up and Bryon Bubb was restricted to long range efforts easily dealt with by the Rams.

With time running out, Rams strikers Welford and Vahid launched unnecessarily high lunges that left Andy Little winded and in need of treatment. Welford himself had his side's best chance to snatch a late winner when set clearon 82 minutes, but Little saved well at his feet.

Ultimately it was a frustrating end to a positive opening home performance and Dave Anderson will know that the Dons' cannot repeat too many home draws this season if the ultimate goal of promotion is to be achieved.