Darren Moore says Port Vale were 'bitterly disappointed' not to beat AFC Wimbledon

AFC Wimbledon and Port Vale played out a 1-1 draw in Sky Bet League One, with both managers feeling their side could have easily come away with all three points

Darren Moore would have been "bitterly disappointed" to have departed from the Cherry Red Records Stadium empty-handed after Port Vale claimed a 1-1 draw with AFC Wimbledon.

The away side controlled the opening 45 minutes but found themselves trailing with 18 minutes left on the clock when Antwoine Hackford capitalised on a loose ball inside the box before slotting into the bottom-right corner.

Nevertheless, Alistair Smith surrendered possession in his own territory during the 86th minute, enabling George Hall to tee up Devante Cole for the leveller.

Moore believed his team could have comfortably departed south London with maximum points after stretching their Sky Bet League One undefeated streak to five matches.

"Considering we were the away team, coming here, and the performance we put on, I am so disappointed not to take three points," he said.

"I am gutted not to take three points.

"To come here and limit them down to a long-range effort in the second half and a misjudgement from one of our players, which led to their goal, I would have been bitterly disappointed to go back up the road with nothing to show for it.

"I said to the boys, one quality they have got is that they never know when they are beaten, and obviously we fashioned an equaliser at the end.

"Wimbledon were determined, they were plucky, they are at the top half of the table because they do not give much away.

"That is how the game went, we take the point and move on, but I would have been bitterly disappointed to have not come away from here with anything."

The stalemate prevented AFC Wimbledon from securing a fifth consecutive league victory and keeps them in fifth position in the table, whilst Vale remain in 15th place.

Manager Johnnie Jackson expressed his frustration with the outcome after his side had taken the lead, though he acknowledged the away team could have been in front during the opening period.

"I'm not delighted because we got ourselves in front and at that stage you want to go and see it through," he added.

"To concede so late, it is disappointing, but on reflection I have to be fair to what I have just seen, and I think it is a fair result.

"They certainly had their share of the game, definitely in the first half, they were the better team.

"They could count themselves unlucky not to be in front so we responded really well to get ourselves in front, but we knew they were going to come again, they are a good team.

"They are relentless in what they do, they make you defend constantly from corners, free-kicks and throw-ins.

"It is just unfortunate, the way their goal came about with my lad slipping in the corner, nothing you can do about that.

"So we feel a little hard done by there, but you have to respect the opposition and the way the game went and say that a draw was probably fair."