Ardley hopes Dons’ season can turn on cup wins

Neal Ardley hopes his AFC Wimbledon side have finally turned a corner after Mitchell Pinnock’s last-gasp strike earned them a 1-0 win over non-league Haringey Borough in their FA Cup first round clash.

Ardley came into Friday night’s game knowing that his job was on the line after seven straight losses in League One.

And Pinnock’s last-gasp deflected effort spared his sides’ blushes against a team four leagues below them and hopes the win can build some momentum.

“We’ve won two cup games this week, but maybe they were a distraction from the league,” he said.

“That is something to go off, but it will take a hell of a lot more to get the good feeling around the place.

“Winning is a habit so we hope this is something, we know there is a lot more but at least these last two games have been a start.

“We have had loads of games this season where we haven’t had any luck. Today we have had that stroke. Maybe it does even out.

“We would have got crucified if we’d lost and the boys deserve at least some credit for winning.”

For Haringey, their fairytale FA Cup run that began in the preliminary round back in August is now at an end, but boss Tom Loizou is not too disheartened after a dramatic night in front of the BBC cameras.

“The lads aren’t gutted, they’re buzzing,” he said.

“We had no right to compete against a side like this, or beat them.

“We were five minutes away from getting a result. I watched Wimbledon whack Stevenage 4-0 during the week, so it just goes to show how well we’ve done.”