Neil Shipperley kept Wimbledon in the play-off chase as determined Preston's
resistance was broken three minutes from time at Selhurst Park.
The visitors had looked like claiming a point after a dogged display before
Shipperley struck and substitute Patrick Agyemang added a flattering second in
injury time.
The Dons had dominated the game but as time wore on, their chances of winning
receded as Preston held firm.
Preston goalkeeper David Lucas kept his side in the game in the first half
with two outstanding saves.
He dived low to his right to keep out a shot from Shipperley and then blocked
with his feet as Neal Ardley found himself unmarked from 10 yards.
But aside from those incidents, Preston looked comfortable at the back, where
Colin Murdock and Chris Lucketti kept a firm grip on the Wimbledon strikers.
The Dons got little reward from the long ball to Shipperley and David Connolly
and looked better when playing the ball through midfield. Full-back Jermaine
Darlington also lent some sparkle to Wimbledon's attack.
Preston clearly missed the influence of captain and playmaker Sean Gregan as
they struggled to keep Wimbledon at bay at the start of the second half.
Every time their hard-pressed defenders cleared, the ball was quickly back as
the Dons dominated in midfield.
Preston's strikeforce of Jon Macken and David Healy were left to chase
hopeless causes.
Wimbledon should have gone in front when Lucas spilled a shot from Connolly
but full-back Graham Alexander made an important clearance as Kevin Cooper
prepared to strike.
Healy had a half-chance when the ball ran kindly for him in the Wimbledon
penalty area but Kelvin Davis was alert enough to beat out the shot.
The deadlock was finally broken when Wimbledon won a late corner.
Ardley's kick ran through to full-back Darren Holloway whose shot deflected
neatly into the path of Shipperley, who netted from close range.
Agyemang then rubbed salt into the wounds by turning in a cross from fellow
substitute Jobi McAnuff in the dying seconds.
Teams
Wimbledon: Davis, Cunningham, Holloway, Andersen, Darlington, Ardley, Hughes, Cooper (McAnuff 76), Francis, Shipperley, Connolly (Agyemang 90).
Subs Not Used: Feuer, Gier, Mild.
Goals: Shipperley 87, Agyemang 90.
Preston: Lucas, Alexander, Murdock, Lucketti, Edwards, Cartwright (Basham 88), Rankine, McKenna, Anderson (Eaton 79), Healy, Macken (Cresswell 65).
Subs Not Used: Moilanen, Keane.
Booked: Edwards.
Att: 6,501
Ref: P Armstrong (Thatcham).
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