Lincoln City moved to within a whisker of the Championship this weekend with a hard-fought 1-0 win against AFC Wimbledon.
The Wombles, managed by Johnnie Jackson, gave the Imps a real test on a blustery afternoon. The weather felt autumnal at times, and Wimbledon battled hard to ensure the division’s top side didn’t have it all our own way.
The breakthrough came late, after City weathered a storm metaphorically. The perceived advantage of the wind didn’t manifest into domination, and Wimbledon had their chances, most strikingly Zack Nelson blasting over from close range.
Ryan Oné didn’t blast over from close range. He lurked as Jack Moylan released Dom Jefferies with two minutes of time remaining. Jefferies, a huge impact sub in recent weeks, delivered a cross and Towler touched the ball down for Oné to score his fourth of the season.
Replays suggest Towler touched the ball down with his hand, not quite Thierry Henry circa 2009, but certainly one that could easily have been ruled out. However, the officials did not spot anything, and the goal stood.
After the game Jackson, who once had a short spell managing Charlton, looked dismayed as he explained how he felt the goal shouldn’t stand.
“The goal shouldn’t count. It’s handball. The ball hit Ryley Towler’s hand, and it bounced to someone, and obviously, they get the goal.”
It wasn’t just the nature of the goal that troubled Jackson, who has done a fine job with his Wimbledon side. He was frustrated that his side had matched the league leaders, but couldn’t make their chances count.
“Yeah, the nature of the goal is obviously hard to take. It’s hard to take within the context of the game as well. The fact that we’ve come here, against the league leaders on the brink of promotion, done great things this season, tough opposition and taken the game to them.
“I thought we were more than a match and did a lot of good things.
“(I’m a) bit of a broken record. We’re stood here after another defeat, talking about how well we played, and we aren’t taking our chances. It’s the crux of it. I can’t get away from it.”
In fairness, xG does suggest the right outcome, FotMob having us at 1.41 to their 0.60, but had Zack Nelson tested Wickens in the second half, rather than blazing over, maybe we’d be having a different conversation.
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