AFC Wimbledon failed to turn dominance into goals for the second time in a week, as an off-colour Horsham side lived to fight another day in the FA Cup third qualifying round. In spite of a fine performance, this 0-0 draw means the Dons travel back to the Atspeed Stadium on Tuesday night to sort out the tie once and for all.

Terry Brown was able to recall Luke Garrard to his starting eleven following injury, shuttling Antony Howard into central defence alongside Jason Goodliffe. Jake Leberl moved into midfield to cover for suspended Mark Beard, while Richard Butler continued to work the front line with support from Northern Ireland U19 international, Robin Shroot.

The visitors had the best of the opening exchanges. Early attacking intent won the Hornets a series of corners from which Jacob Mingle sliced wide inside the first minute. Lee Carney’s long range effort then dipped just over the crossbar.

The hosts regrouped and a Jake Leberl half-volley sailed over the bar before Antony Howard gave Alan Mansfield his first real test of the afternoon forcing the Hornets’ keeper to get down well to his right.

It heralded a good period for Wimbledon. Leberl’s crunching tackle on the edge of the Dons’ box set Tony Finn on his way, running the ball up field and combining well with Richard Butler to tee up Michael Haswell, who drove his right-foot shot straight at the Hornets’ stopper. Butler and Steve Ferguson bundled their way into good positions but failed to pull the trigger, before Robin Shroot scuffed a close range effort that Horsham cleared off the line.

Meanwhile, Gary Charman fired wide from 25 yards after the visitors engineered a rapid counter-attack. Robert Quinn’s error then allowed Simon Austin a chance to spin and shoot on the half volley but Andy Little made a comfortable catch.

Normal service resumed with the Dons pouring forward once more. Despite all their possession, however, the hosts were over-playing in the final third; lacking incisiveness and finding it difficult to penetrate the Hornets’ backline. Crosses into the box seemed to be on rations, and shots on goal were at a premium. What efforts there were really didn’t trouble the Horsham keeper.

Ferguson cut in from the right and tried his luck from the edge of the area but Mansfield saw it all the way. Moments later Tony Finn forged a similar attempt from the other flank and found the keeper was well positioned once again.

Former Don Lewis Taylor started the second half in place of right midfielder John Westcott, as Horsham boss John Maggs tried to stem the tide of Wimbledon attacks down the left with a more physical presence.

Michael Haswell’s long throw on 49 minutes caught the visiting defence napping and Richard Butler sped into the area, only to blast his shot well wide of the target. The home fans were sensing that their team might not get a better chance all afternoon.

Haswell struck a tame free-kick into Mansfield’s arms from twenty yards on the hour, before Horsham striker Carl Rook made a brilliantly timed interception to take the ball off Quinn’s head as he arrived to convert at the back post.

A succession of corner kicks came and went but the Dons couldn’t punish the visitors. Leberl had a 20-yard shot deflected wide and, six minutes from the end, the former Dagenham midfielder won the ball thirty-five yards from goal and launched an effort that beat Mansfield for pace but dipped too late.

Moving into stoppage time, substitute Will Salmon played in Ferguson but the Scot was beaten to the ball by an alert Mansfield, who smothered at his feet.

Before the end there was still time for Andy Little to make a frightful sliced clearance that gifted Horsham a corner. Although the ball pin-balled around the area for a few moments the Dons cleared and the referee’s whistle confirmed that a midweek trip down to West Sussex would be required to clarify which of these sides will contest the fourth qualifying round.

Fine performance or otherwise, if Wimbledon are to progress they’ll have to be firing more than blanks.