Fans and players alike were left thankful after failing to produce the goods at home to midtable Heybridge as results elsewhere went their way.

Since the goal glut that immediately followed the FA's decision to cut the 18-point deduction to three, the Dons' season has hit the buffers. Just three goals since demolishing Slough has turned what should have been a title tilt into a mad scramble to even reach the playoffs.

And, had lowly Ashford Town not held on for a brave draw at Hartsdown Park, Margate would have occupied fifth spot heading into the frantic final day of the season. But even with our destiny still in our own hands heading into the East Thurrock United showdown, no-one could hide the obvious disappointment of more points surrendered without a whimper.

With such a small margin for error, a season-best 3,377 crowd didn't want to see a 15th draw but that's exactly what they got as Wimbledon failed to break down an experienced and resolute Swifts' back four.

Heybridge refused permission for new Don Richard Jolly to play but there was an extra-large tonic awaiting the fans on their arrival at the ground: Roscoe Dsane was back from his ill father's bedside in Ghana. It was thought jet-lagged Dsane would have to sit out the clash, leaving options up top limited. But not even this pick-me-up could lift a side stuttering their way towards a playoff place.

But before the Dons' top scorer had time to find his feet, his side was already a goal down. Defender Danny Barber's free-kick looked like it had been moved forward two yards but the referee was none the wiser. The left-back's execution was vigorous from 20 yards out as his shot beat Andy Little for the start that nobody wanted.

The goal was typical of recent weeks and it took another 20 minutes for Wimbledon to find any kind of rhythm. When it came, so did a goal. Luke Garrard's subtle lob over the Swifts backline played in Dsane. Defender Ian Wiles was left with little option but to bring down his opponent and a penalty was awarded.

Then came the decision that had the ability to change a season. Would the referee do the right thing and red-card the Heybridge man, leaving the Dons with a clear vision of victory' The yellow was met by howls of disapproval and Wiles was left breathing a sigh of relief.

Dsane, though, wasn't in such a charitable mood, rolling his penalty past Danny Gay for his 21st goal of the season to bring life to a game that had started in the worst possible way.

The tempo wasn't high but on another day the game could have been over by half time. Before long Chris Gell shot right at Gay and, with the half-time break looming, defender Paul Lorraine wasted a golden opportunity.

Garrard's free-kick into the box wasn't dealt with and Lorraine got himself ahead of Michael Shinn but it was his shoulder instead of his forehead that found contact. The ball trickled into the keeper's welcoming arms when Gay might have expected to be picking it out of the net for a second time.

But the action wasn't to get much better. With many of the Tempest End faithful making the pilgrimage back to their former West Bank home, a second-half onslaught was rightly expected.

It didn't come. In fact, Wimbledon didn't even come close to finding the goal that would, have all but confirmed their playoff place.

Two substitutes did have attempts to break down the visitors with long-range efforts in the final 20 minutes. First Robin Shroot, who had come on for the ineffective Steve Wales, tried his luck. Then Lee O'Leary, on for the tiring Gell, looked to make an impression after arriving on the scene. But the former Hendon man couldn't rediscover the goal form of his first few games.

Wes Daly almost stole an undeserved win in the closing stages but Wimbledon got what they deserved - and the focus was quick to shift to the season's final day matches, with fingernails getting a week of growth before the anxious trip to Rookery Hill.