Match report from the Wimbledon game
Carlisle made it three draws from four league games courtesy of a seventh of the season from Jabo Ibehre as they took their time to get going in what became a frustrating game.
United started well with a run of early corners but Wimbledon defended in numbers as they protected their lines. A downward header from Ibehre was the closest the hosts came through the spell but Shea's save from Ibehre's bullet was academic as the whistle went for an unseen infringement.
The Cumbrians thought they'd scored on 10 minutes when another fizzed Grainger corner invited Kennedy to jump. He connected well and Shea was relieved to see it smash back off the upright as he remained rooted to the spot.
Wimbledon bit back with a good spell of their own and a cross into the box found Elliott in space. He connected well but Gillespie dived across to beat it away. Grainger was alert and he completed the clearance before Taylor could get a touch.
Osborne spun and shanked a high shot into the stands, and Miller had to block a Taylor cross as Wimbledon enjoyed a good period, but Carlisle went close when a Miller throw was flicked on by Raynes. Asamoah picked up the loose ball and set Hery for the shot, and his arrowed effort was stopped in its tracks by Kennedy. He did well to turn his man but Shea was well placed to clutch at his firm attempt.
A long ball forward sent Wimbledon on the attack on 36 minutes and a touch from Taylor put Francomb through on the right. The wide man moved into space and he had options as he ghosted into the box. Barcham shouted for it and he made no mistake as he carefully picked his spot.
United went close at the other end with headers from Ibehre and Archibald-Henville, and Taylor survived loud appeals for handball as he stopped another volley from Ibehre at close range. Raynes volleyed the loose ball wide as the rest of the blue shirts remonstrated with the referee.
Carlisle were almost undone again just after the break when Francomb charged a Grainger clearance down. The rebound left the Dons man in space and Gillespie had to show firm hands to parry it away.
A better build up from the home side brought a cross from Grainger which Asamoah had to readjust to meet. His header was decent but he couldn't keep it down.
Wimbledon should have doubled their lead on 55 minutes when Elliott dropped a shoulder and poked the ball between Raynes and Archibald-Henville. It opened up in front of him but he got his bearings wrong and sent a poor shot well past the target.
A weak header from Elliott was easy for Gillespie to claim as the visitors kept going forward, and a miscued volley from Ibehre from a Wyke nod down marked another slow period of the game as the Dons made it difficult for Carlisle to find space.
Carlisle kept their heads up and they were back on terms on 67 minutes when a deep free kick was nodded down inside the area. Ibehre took a touch and he made it seven for the season with another unstoppable finish.
Grainger twice went close with raking shots as spirits rose around Brunton Park and Kennedy was even closer when he ran into the box for a Brough delivery. Miller picked it up at the back post and his outswinger brought an overhead kick from the acrobatic midfielder which Shea had to save.
Big striker Ade Akinfenwa showed skill to get the ball out of his feet as the action swung from end to end but his curler from the outside of his right boot was never on target.
Both sides cancelled each other out through the closing stages, and Akinfenwa blazed another shot over in time added on, as the share of the points became the fair result when the final whistle blew.
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Goals
United - Ibehre (67)
Wimbledon - Barcham (36)
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Bookings
United - Grainger (70), Miller (75), Raynes (90)
Wimbledon - Osborne (88)
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Teams
Carlisle United - Gillespie, Miller (McQueen 81), Raynes, Archibald-Henville, Grainger, Dicker (Brough 61), Joyce, J Kennedy, Hery, Asamoah (Wyke 61), Ibehre. Subs - Hanford, Balanta, Steven Rigg, Thompson.
AFC Wimbledon - Shea, Fuller, Bulman (C Kennedy 9), Robinson, Francomb, Reeves, Elliott (Azeez 76), Meades, Barcham, Osborne, Taylor (Akinfenwa 62). Subs - McDonnell, Nightingale, Sean Rigg, Fitzpatrick.
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Referee - Mr Darren Drysdale
Attendance - 4,412 (311 away fans)
