A last minute Darren Ambrose goal gave Town the win they well deserved just as it looked like another frustrating afternoon for the travelling Blue Army. Wimbledon hardly threatened in a match the visitors really ought to have sewn-up much earlier than the closing stages.

The Blues made one change from the side which won 1-0 in Serbia on Thursday. Tommy Miller replaced the presumably injured Jim Magilton while previously injured Darren Ambrose returned to the bench. Darren Bent, who like Ambrose faces three more games this week including an England U19 match, was not included in the 16.

As expected the game was played in front of a paltry crowd, TWTD managed to count just 693 supporters in the home sections while the overall attendance was 3,238.

Town started the game in dominant form, Marcus Bent having a couple of early opportunities, both saved by Wimbledon keeper Kelvin Davis. The home side's first effort was a Nowland shot which was easy for Marshall.

On 14 Couñago headed a Finidi cross to the keeper and then hit a weak shot which wasn't tricky for Davis.

A rare Wimbledon chance fell to Shipperley on 20, his shot going wide. But it was Town who were having the best of it with most of the opportunities coming via a particularly lively Finidi George in his first league start of the season.

In the 42nd minute Town had the chance of the half. Finidi ran onto a fine Holland ball from midfield and put in a low right-foot cross towards Marcus Bent. The striker seemed certain to score, but amazingly put the ball back across the face of the goal and wide. It was Bent's second missed sitter of the week, although possibly not as bad as the one in the second half against Sartid.

With a minute of the half remaining, Holland hit a powerful low freekick just wide of the post after Couñago had been fouled. The final chance of the half also fell to Holland who turned a Wright cross onto a defender leading to appeals for a penalty from the Town players. Referee Mike Fletcher was unimpressed and waved them away.

Finidi George, enjoying one of his best games for some while, had the first chance of the second period. His header from Clapham's centre was no trouble for the keeper.

On 50 an unusually attacking Makin got away down the right and put in a low cross which was cleared straight back to him. The Blues' defender made an attempt at a shot but sent it high into the sky.

Wimbledon were rarely making any impression on a solid Town defence, but in the 51st minute Jobi Enuff hit a shot well wide.

The Blues were continuing to dominate but despite a plethora of chances the goal wouldn't come. Jermaine Wright took a shot at goal on 54, but his effort failed to test Davis.

Three minutes later Finidi headed a looping ball to the keeper and shortly afterwards was replaced by Darren Ambrose. Although the introduction of the youngster was no surprise, Finidi had been the creator of most of Town's chances and was applauded off by the Town supporters.

Couñago was having another fine game in the Town attack and on 64 broke down the right with a typical battling run. He played the ball to Wright who had another shot saved by Davis who was making a lot of saves without ever needing to be too spectacular. Shortly afterwards Bent hit an effort which the keeper once again routinely saved.

Ambrose's first impression on the game came in the 64th minute when he ran in from the right and got in front of Wimbledon's Hawkins who appeared to trip him just inside the area. The Town players and crowd were certain it was a penalty but referee Fletcher waved play-on.

Wimbledon went close to an undeserved goal on 66 when Shipperley hit a shot from the edge of the area which just went past Andy Marshall's post.

With 20 minutes left on the clock Couñago hit a right foot curler just wide of Davis' post as Town continued to push for the vital goal. Four minutes later the Spaniard would come even closer, hitting a post.

Bent had broken away down the right and put in a cross towards Miller. The former Hartlepool player rode a couple of tackles inside the area and the ball ran to Couñago. The ex-Celta Vigo man rounded the keeper and slipped the ball right-footed goalwards, only to see it rebound back to him off the upright. His second effort went into the side-netting.

Town were continuing to have the best of the play and just two minutes later Bent almost embarrassed Davis with a back header from the edge of the area which the keeper only just prevented from going over his head and under the bar.

As the 90-minute mark approached it looked like another frustrating afternoon for Town, however, as the clock ticked over into injury time, Couñago made yet another battling run down the flank, this time the left. He slipped the ball inside to Miller inside the area who played it across the box to Ambrose eight yards out who appeared to shin it in past a static Davis. It was almost too much to believe for the Town faithful who seemed to pause for a second before celebrating.

There was little more action before the whistle which signalled a vital three points for Town. Virtually all the side came over to applaud the support with Tommy Miller looking particularly pleased with the win judging by his reaction.

A thoroughly impressive display from Town with the only missing element goals, however, Ambrose made up for earlier misses with his final minute effort. The defence were rarely troubled and the midfield and attackers created chances. A 1-0 win, as on Thursday, but just like then it really ought to have been more.

Town: Marshall, Makin, Clapham, McGreal, Brown, Holland, Miller, George (Ambrose 60), Wright, Bent, Couñago (Armstrong 92).

Photo: Action Images

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