Ipswich grab last-gasp winner over Dons

Wimbledon 0, Ipswich 1(full-time)

Super-sub Darren Ambrose fired a last-gasp winner to cap a satisfying week for Ipswich but there was not much else to remember in a dour game played out in front of a paltry crowd of 3,238 at Selhurst Park.

With the game seemingly destined for a goalless bore draw, Ambrose – a second-half replacement for Nigerian striker Finidi George – swept home from the edge of the penalty area to cruelly deny the Dons a point in the 91st minute.

Chances were few and far between in either half with Ipswich striker Pablo Counago going closest to breaking the deadlock with a scorching 20-yarder that cannoned back off the woodwork deep in the second period.

Stuart Murdoch’s Dons were looking to build on their impressive 3-1 midweek Worthington Cup win at Portsmouth to move out of the bottom five, while Ipswich were fresh from their outstanding UEFA Cup triumph in Yugoslavia.

George Burley’s side, fourth from bottom and without a win in Division One since August 18, looked the more sprightly in the opening exchanges.

A disappointing first 45 minutes was complete with both keepers able to count on one hand the saves they had to make, but both sides threatened to break the deadlock after the interval.

George headed just wide for Ipswich, while Wimbledon responded with a 20-yard drive from Joel McAnuff which flew the wrong side of the post.

Dons boss Murdoch replaced Adam Nowland with Wayne Gray shortly after the interval, while minutes later Burley took off George for Ambrose as both managers looked to give their sides fresh impetus.

Ipswich appeared to benefit more from the tactical switch and could have taken the lead in the 64th minute when Dons keeper Kelvin Davis held long-range efforts in quick succession from Jermaine Wright and Marcus Bent.

Neil Shipperley tried his luck again from long range, but it was Ipswich striker Counago who came closest to breaking the deadlock.

The Spaniard sent one rocket skimming just wide from the right edge of the penalty area in the 70th minute and soon after saw an identical effort crash back off the woodwork with Davis well beaten.

And just as the fans began to filter out of Selhurst Park Ipswich were rewarded for a late spell of pressure with Ambrose grabbing the all-important winner with virtually the last kick of the game.

In the opening exchanges it was Ipswich and Bent – buoyed by his UEFA Cup winner against Sartid – who had the first shot on goal, but his right-footer from 20 yards was comfortably held by Davis.

But the home side soon pressed and Ipswich keeper Andy Marshall did well to block Nowland’s close-range effort before the visitors countered again.

Davis comfortably held three efforts from Counago, one from a header and the other two from shots the Spaniard did not get hold of.

Wimbledon sporadically sprung to life, Alex Tapp seeing his left-footer fizz over the bar and Shipperley steering his 20-yarder wide of the target.

But although the Dons wrestled back a fair share of possession as the first half progressed failed to create any clear-cut openings.