GOALKEEPER David Elm emerged as Bashley's hero as his 84th-minute penalty save ensured his side an improbable point at runaway Ryman One leaders AFC Wimbledon.

Beset with injuries, the New Forest side looked set for a torrid afternoon in South London at the home of the promotion certainties.

But Bash produced arguably their best performance of the season as they defended manfully to stifle the free-scoring Dons and created enough chances to have even sneaked a famous win.

And while assistant manager Ricky Haysom was delighted with his team's performance, he admitted the scoreline was somewhat unlikely.

He said: "We reckoned that, with the goals both sides score, a 0-0 would have been about 1,000-1 in Ladbrokes! But for a 0-0, it was such a good game.

"In the first half, we were the better side and I thought the wall between the dressing rooms was going to come down at half-time with the rollicking their manager gave them (described on the Dons' official website by their manager Dave Anderson as a "half-time discussion"!)

"I was a bit worried we wouldn't be able to keep it going after the break but we told the players to just keep going as we were and have a go at them as we're at our best when we're attacking.

"It is certainly a point gained- not many sides will go there and come away with something. Wimbledon were very complimentary about the way we played too. They said it was nice to see a team come and actually try and win the game rather than just putting everyone behind the ball."

It was the visitors who seized the initiative from the off and Gary Langrish spurned a gilt-edged opportunity to put them ahead inside the opening 10 minutes. But he delayed his shot after bursting on to Andy Culliford's flick and the chance was wasted.

Elm came to the rescue for the first time when he produced an excellent tip away after Richard Butler had raced through but it was Bash who continued to look more threatening throughout the opening 45 minutes.

The Dons upped the ante in the second period, however, and Elm was in dominant form showing exemplary handling as the pressure began to mount.

Danny Gibbons then seemed to divert Chris Knowles' goalbound shot over the bar with Bash's clearest opening of the half, as the game looked destined for stalemate. But six minutes from time, Rob Ursell went down under a challenge from Paul Gazzard and the referee pointed to the spot.

Ursell dusted himself off to take the kick but Elm brilliantly parried and Andy Culliford's saving tackle to prevent the striker tapping in the rebound was equally spectacular and important.

Bashley: Elm, Gazzard, Ferrett, Parnell, Proudley, Culliford, Langrish, Stokoe, Gibbons, Knowles, Wakefield. Unused subs: Head, Harper, Totczyk, Hough, Kabir.