AFC Wimbledon 0 - 1 Portsmouth: Portsmouth secure play-off spot with win at AFC Wimbledon

Posted Wednesday, April 27, 2016 by PA

Michael Smith's first-half goal guaranteed Portsmouth a League Two play-off spot as they recorded a hard-fought 1-0 win away to AFC Wimbledon.

Victory for either side would have mathematically secured their place in the top seven but it was Smith's composed finish on 35 minutes that ultimately proved decisive.

Wimbledon came close to taking the lead on eight minutes when Darius Charles' low header was scooped away by Paul Jones.

And former Dons star Smith made them pay just after the half-hour mark, producing a clinical shot from inside the box while the hosts were appealing for a foul on Sean Rigg.

Smith had the ball in the back of the net again just minutes later but the whistle had already gone for a foul.

The hosts came out invigorated after the break and almost equalised when Charles' 57th-minute header bounced just over the bar.

Wimbledon's Andy Barcham pounced on an error from Christian Burgess but pulled his shot wide and Portsmouth's Gary Roberts should have wrapped the game up late on with two golden opportunities but failed to convert on either occasion.