Young midfielder Adam Nowland rescued an unlikely and ill-deserved FA Cup
replay for Wimbledon with a stunning second-half strike against Stoke in Milton
Keynes.
Nowland rattled home a 25-yard effort to cancel out John Eustace's early goal
which seemed certain to earn City a place in the fourth-round draw.
Eustace had claimed his fifth goal of the season with a lethal volley, but the
visitors were eventually punished for wasting numerous chances.
City's impressive performance came despite Tony Pulis fielding a weakened
line-up with goalkeeper Ed de Goey and on-loan defender Gerry Taggart sidelined
by injury.
In the absence of de Goey, Neil Cutler made only his sixth appearance of the
season but the City keeper was rarely involved in a one-sided fixture.
Carl Asaba took just two minutes to drive a shot beyond Steve Banks but inches
wide of the post, and the opening goal quickly followed with 11 minutes gone.
Stoke's chance appeared to have gone after another excellent strike from Asaba
came back off the woodwork, but a patient attack from the visitors allowed
Eustace to steer home a clinical volley from the edge of the box.
Marcus Hall then lifted a powerful strike over the crossbar as Stoke
threatened to cut loose, and Banks did well to prevent Asaba doubling City's
lead with an alert block in the 17th minute.
Cutler was finally tested moments later but made a comfortable save from Wade
Small's ambitious effort, and as Wimbledon began to get going Nowland also
forced a good stop from the keeper.
But the pressure from the hosts was brief, and Stuart Murdoch's players
escaped again when the lively Asaba rattled the frame of the goal for the second
time 10 minutes before half-time.
Pulis' plans were disrupted four minutes after the interval when injury forced
striker Ade Akinbiyi to make way for Chris Greenacre, and the change unsettled
the visitors.
Darel Russell's wayward effort on 65 minutes was Stoke's only chance during a
quiet start to the second half, and Cutler then prevented Wimbledon from
snatching an unlikely equaliser by smothering Small's shot.
But with 17 minutes remaining, the Dons levelled out of nothing with a
outstanding strike from Nowland.
The midfielder was allowed to run at goal by the Stoke defence and he hit the
net with a blistering 25-yard finish which gave Cutler no chance.
Teams
Wimbledon Banks, Darlington, Leigertwood, Gier, Lewington,
McAnuff, Reo-Coker, Nowland, Small, Agyemang, Mackie (Gray 58).
Subs Not Used: Chorley, Tapp, Gordon, Worgan.
Booked: Nowland.
Goals: Nowland 73.
Stoke Cutler, Halls, Thomas, Clarke, Marcus Hall, Eustace,
Johnson (Hoekstra 80), Russell, Asaba, Noel-Williams,
Akinbiyi (Greenacre 50).
Subs Not Used: Neal, Commons, Svard.
Goals: Eustace 12.
Att: 3,609
Ref: I Williamson (Berkshire).
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