CHELTENHAM TOWN 0 AFC WIMBLEDON 0

CHELTENHAM Town had to settle for a point after being held by a well-drilled AFC Wimbledon side at the Abbey Business Stadium last night.

The draw was enough to keep the Robins in second place in the League Two table, but their disappointing home form continued.

Mark Yates' side had lost all three of their previous Tuesday night League matches this term and they did manage to end that run with a draw, but it was a rather flat display on Pancake Day.

The first half was a predominantly scrappy affair, with a dearth of goalmouth action at both ends as the sides cancelled each other out.

Former Wimbledon winger Kaid Mohamed set up Jeff Goulding in the eighth minute, but his firm shot flashed wide of the near post.

Goulding had recovered from a dead leg picked up in Saturday's 5-0 win at Dagenham and Redbridge to keep his place up front for Cheltenham and he nodded over a Marlon Pack corner in the tenth minute.

Jack Butland was thrust straight back into action after returning for a second loan spell from Birmingham City.

The young goalkeeper was largely a spectator as Wimbledon failed to threaten much in the final third, but the visitors also looked comfortable at the back.

Mohamed looked capable of providing a spark and he burst through the middle at considerable speed three minutes before the break.

He had Josh Low in space on the overlap, but he elected to take a speculative shot that was charged down easily.

Alan Bennett was cautioned a minute later for a challenge on Christian Jolley, but the Robins back four dealt with him and strike partner Jack Midson well and both defences dominated as the first half finished goalless.

Russ Penn reached a low cross from Luke Garbutt in the 50th minute but he failed to generate any power and Seb Brown gathered it comfortably, but there was more urgency about Cheltenham and for the first time they asked some serious questions of the Dons' backline.

Penn shot wide after good hold-up play from Goulding as Cheltenham remained camped inside the Wimbledon half, but the killer ball eluded them.

The early second half impetus was lost however and Midson saw a shot deflected over the bar for a corner, which was well claimed by Butland under pressure.

Pack saw a long range attempt well held by Brown before front pair Jimmy Spencer and Darryl Duffy were introduced in place of Low and Goulding for the final 17 minutes. Dons substitute Billy Knott curled one wide with 15 minutes remaining and Pack smashed a free-kick over from 30 yards.

Butland showed more alertness to pluck the ball out of the air after a dangerous ball was aimed towards Midson.

Garbutt's cross was met by the head of Spencer, but Brown turned it over the bar shortly after Cheltenham switched to three at the back in a bid to find a winner.

Mohamed raced onto Spencer's pass in the 88th minute, but his effort cleared the far post and time ran out.

CHELTENHAM TOWN: J Butland; S Jombati, A Bennett, S Elliott, L Garbutt; J Low (D Duffy 73), M Pack, R Penn (K Lowe 81), L Summerfield, K Mohamed; J Goulding (J Spencer 73). Subs not used: B Smikle, J McGlashan.

AFC WIMBLEDON: S Brown; S Hatton, J Stuart, M Mitchel-King, C Bush; G Moncur, S Moore, J Euell (B Knott 67), R Yussuf; C Jolley (B Harrison 74), J Midson. Subs not used: J Turner, C McNaughton, G Hoyte.

REFEREE: S Mathieson.

ATTENDANCE: 2,603 (207 away)

STAR MAN: Marlon Pack.