Promotion tipped Bristol Rovers battled past a spirited AFC Wimbledon comeback to take the points in the opening game of the League 2 season.
Rovers took control of the game early in the first half thanks to a low strike from Scott McGleish and a close range Matt Harrold header only for the lead to be cancelled out, Jamie Stuart connecting sweetly with a Sam Hatton free kick before substitute Charles Ademeno turned swiftly in the box and put the ball under Rovers goalkeeper Scott Bevan to equalise.
The game finally turned back the way of the visitors when Brett Johnson’s wayward hand lead to a penalty that Adam Virgo placed home.
It was the Dons debut in the Football League and it was to be one long party for the Wombles fans no matter what the result, though Rovers did their best to be the party poopers with the opening goal on nineteen minutes.
Wimbledon goalkeeper Seb Brown chose to throw out to the centre of the pitch but no sooner had Ricky Wellard taken possession of the ball then Rovers captain Matt Gill had won it back, slotting a through pass to the veteran Scott McGleish who went hard and low to beat Brown at his far post.
The clock ticked just three minutes further before Wimbledon dropped another clanger, McGleish hassling the opposition defence into error and running clear into the box. Though his initial shot was saved McGleish was able to pick up the ball on the byline and clip a cross onto the head of Matt Harrold, the forward nodding home from six yards.
With Rovers in control the game looked to be heading one way but Wimbledon were soon back in it as Jamie Stuart scored with a header of his own, turning Sam Hatton’s swinging free kick into the net, the fingertips of Rovers custodian Scott Bevan not enough to stop the bullet.
The second half started with the home side looking the better of the two and their dominance was rewarded with a deserved equaliser, Charles Ademeno taking receipt of a Lee Minshull header that he duly swivelled on before beating Bevan to send the majority of the 4,629 crowd into raptures.
The Wimbledon pressure eased off in the closing stages but Rovers could only find Brown in top form. That was until Brett Johnson’s handball gave Adam Virgo the opportunity to settle the game from the spot, the centre back duly converting with a slam of his instep.
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