AFC Wimbledon's new manager Neal Ardley suffered defeat in his first game in charge at the hands of Cheltenham.

Byron Harrison could have put Ardley's side ahead but blasted over, a miss which was compounded when Marlon Pack volleyed in from outside the box.

Despite Ardley's side pressing for an equaliser, ex-Dons player Kaid Mohamed doubled the lead with a headed effort from Billy Jones's cross.

Harrison headed in late on, but it proved no more than a consolation.

VIEW FROM THE DRESSING ROOM

AFC Wimbledon manager Neal Ardley told BBC London 94.9:

"It was tough to be thrown in two days before the game and to have to get to know the boys.

"They gave everything out there and I can't ask for too much more.

"There were some positives, we created a lot of chances.

"We looked like we were going to score and I suppose that is a positive."

Cheltenham Town manager Mark Yates told BBC Radio Gloucestershire:

"Once we scored, it lifted them and we dropped off a little bit. We had to defend a little bit more than I wanted us to, but I think they've got good players.

"We've got a nasty habit of winning at the moment, away from home in particular, and defending for our lives. We've just got to keep that going.

"I had a chat with Marlon Pack on Monday, as I felt he wasn't as sharp as he could have been. I needed him to step up, and I thought he was outstanding.

"If we're up to third, then great. The players deserve to be there. It's up to us now to make sure we stay up there."

Lineup, Bookings (1) & Substitutions (3)

AFC Wimbledon

  • 01 Brown
  • 04 Harris (Long - 57' )
  • 15 Fenlon
  • 24 Francomb
  • 29 Antwi
  • 30 Mambo
  • 23 Yussuff (Jolley - 57' )
  • 28 Gregory
  • 09 Harrison
  • 10 Midson
  • 11 L Moore

Substitutes

  • 33 Jaimez-Ruiz
  • 02 Osano
  • 22 Haynes-Brown
  • 07 Long
  • 12 Jolley
  • 20 Merrifield
  • 21 Strutton

Cheltenham Town

  • 01 Brown
  • 02 Lowe
  • 03 Jones
  • 06 Elliott
  • 22 Jombati
  • 04 Carter Booked
  • 07 Pack
  • 11 McGlashan
  • 16 Penn
  • 23 Mohamed (Duffy - 74' )
  • 26 Zebroski

Substitutes

  • 12 Roberts
  • 17 Andrew
  • 08 Deering
  • 21 Graham
  • 09 Duffy
  • 10 Goulding
  • 14 Harrad
Ref: Robinson
Att: 4,409

Match Stats

Shots

14 8

On target

8 6

Corners

4 2

Fouls

8 9

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +3:14 Full time

Full Time The referee blows for the end of the match.

90:00 +1:49

Byron Harrison takes a shot.

90:00 +0:38

Jim Fenlon provided the assist for the goal.

90:00 +0:38 Goal scored

Goal - Byron Harrison - Wimbledon 1 - 2 Cheltenham Byron Harrison finds the back of the net with a headed goal from inside the box. AFC Wimbledon 1-2 Cheltenham.

90:00 +0:05

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Stacy Long by Chris Zebroski. George Francomb restarts play with the free kick.

88:58

Short corner worked by Darryl Duffy.

86:15

Jim Fenlon challenges Jermaine McGlashan unfairly and gives away a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Russell Penn.

85:00

Byron Harrison takes a shot. Blocked by Keith Lowe.

82:41

Russell Penn fouled by Luke Moore, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick taken by Scott Brown.

80:18

Chris Zebroski is penalised for handball and concedes a free kick. Free kick taken by Luke Moore.

80:00

Darren Carter takes a shot. Save by Seb Brown.

79:38

The referee blows for offside against Darryl Duffy. Will Antwi restarts play with the free kick.

77:38

Corner taken right-footed by George Francomb, Shot by Christian Jolley from deep inside the penalty area misses wide to the left of the target.

77:05

Darren Carter is ruled offside. Will Antwi takes the free kick.

75:56

Jack Midson takes a shot. Save made by Scott Brown.

75:25

Christian Jolley takes a shot. Blocked by Keith Lowe.

75:02

Darryl Duffy concedes a free kick for a foul on Yado Mambo. Yado Mambo takes the direct free kick.

74:27

Darryl Duffy takes a shot. Comfortable save by Scott Brown.

72:54

Yado Mambo takes the direct free kick.

72:54 Substitution

Substitution (Cheltenham) makes a substitution, with Darryl Duffy coming on for Kaid Mohamed.

72:54

The assistant referee signals for offside against Chris Zebroski.

70:48

Sido Jombati gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Jack Midson. Stacy Long takes the direct free kick.

69:53

Corner from the right by-line taken by George Francomb, clearance by Chris Zebroski.

66:39

Jack Midson takes a shot. Save by Scott Brown.

65:02

George Francomb produces a shot on goal direct from the free kick.

65:02 Booking

Booking Booking for Darren Carter for unsporting behaviour.

64:56

Darren Carter concedes a free kick for a foul on Christian Jolley.

59:13

Free kick awarded for a foul by Billy Jones on Christian Jolley. Free kick taken by George Francomb.

58:35

Darren Carter concedes a free kick for a foul on Stacy Long. George Francomb takes the direct free kick.

57:37

Corner from the right by-line taken by George Francomb, Russell Penn manages to make a clearance.

56:37 Substitution

Substitution Stacy Long joins the action as a substitute, replacing Louis Harris.

56:37 Substitution

Substitution Rashid Yussuff leaves the field to be replaced by Christian Jolley.

55:40

Assist on the goal came from Darren Carter.

55:40 Goal scored

Goal - Kaid Mohamed - Wimbledon 0 - 2 Cheltenham Kaid Mohamed finds the net with a headed goal from close in. AFC Wimbledon 0-2 Cheltenham.

54:51

Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Billy Jones from the right by-line.

52:48

Darren Carter takes a shot. Comfortable save by Seb Brown.

48:59

Shot by Chris Zebroski from deep inside the penalty area misses to the right of the target.

47:19

George Francomb challenges Russell Penn unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick taken by Billy Jones.

45:46

Jack Midson takes a shot. Save made by Scott Brown.

45:01

The referee blows his whistle to start the second half.

45:00 +2:02 Half time

Half Time The half-time whistle blows.

40:14

Shot from just outside the box by Steven Gregory goes over the bar.

37:41

Jack Midson fouled by Sido Jombati, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by George Francomb.

35:14

Jack Midson takes a shot. Brilliant save by Scott Brown.

30:35

Sido Jombati gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Rashid Yussuff. Rashid Yussuff restarts play with the free kick.

29:28

Headed effort from deep inside the area by Luke Moore misses to the right of the goal.

28:39

George Francomb produces a left-footed shot from just outside the area that goes harmlessly over the target.

25:12

Free kick awarded for a foul by Byron Harrison on Steve Elliott. Direct free kick taken by Scott Brown.

24:14 Goal scored

Goal - Marlon Pack - Wimbledon 0 - 1 Cheltenham Marlon Pack grabs a goal from outside the box to the bottom left corner of the goal. AFC Wimbledon 0-1 Cheltenham.

22:55

Inswinging corner taken from the left by-line by George Francomb, clearance by Darren Carter.

21:50

The official flags Chris Zebroski offside. Seb Brown restarts play with the free kick.

19:31

Steven Gregory challenges Darren Carter unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick taken by Billy Jones.

16:49

Foul by Louis Harris on Russell Penn, free kick awarded. Marlon Pack takes the direct free kick.

12:25

Byron Harrison gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Keith Lowe. Keith Lowe restarts play with the free kick.

11:22

Shot from just outside the area by Darren Carter goes over the bar.

8:25

Byron Harrison produces a left-footed shot from inside the area that goes over the bar.

8:05

Kaid Mohamed takes a shot. Blocked by Yado Mambo.

5:46

The assistant referee flags for offside against Rashid Yussuff. Free kick taken by Scott Brown.

2:02

Free kick awarded for a foul by Louis Harris on Chris Zebroski. Marlon Pack crosses the ball from the free kick right-footed from right wing, clearance by Yado Mambo.

0:16

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Yado Mambo by Chris Zebroski. Seb Brown takes the free kick.

0:00

The game kicks-off.

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