Wimbledon 2, City 2: Claus Jorgensen made it six in six and Ashley Ward grabbed his first goal since August but City had to settle for a draw at a near-deserted Selhurst Park this afternoon.

Only 1,178 bothered to turn up to see Wimbledon twice come from behind through Gareth Ainsworth and Neil Shipperley in an entertaining, free-flowing encounter.

Andy Gray and Peter Atherton both came straight back in after missing the Ipswich win through suspension.

Out went Simon Francis, banned for his red card at Grimsby, and Robert Molenaar who didn't make the trip south after picking up a virus.

Leading scorer Gray was likely to return to the right wing, with Danny Forrest keeping his place up front after his goal-scoring league debut last week.

Danny Cadamarteri was among the substitutes, his first involvement since November.

Youngster Danny Ekoku was again on the bench against the club where his uncle Efan became a household name.

It felt more like a reserve game than one in the First Division with the eerie lack of atmosphere. The crowd, if you could call it that, looked barely enough to hit four figures although it was "swelled" by a smattering of about 330 City fans - the club had sold only 46 tickets beforehand.

With no Molenaar, Ashley Ward took back the captain's armband as City went after their third away win since Christmas.

Forrest was clearly still buzzing from the previous week and tried a shot straight away before Wimbledon forced an early corner. Atherton cleared Ainsworth's kick but play was stopped for a foul.

But Wimbledon had a great chance after two minutes. Shipperley sprung the offside trap to send David Connolly clear but the Republic of Ireland hitman - who scored four at the Bradford & Bingley Stadium in November - fired straight at Aidan Davison and the ball wedged between the keeper's legs.

It was a crucial save by Davison who had only passed a morning fitness test along with Wayne Jacobs.

German Moritz Volz, on loan from Arsenal, drove high and wide as the home side continued to press against the hollow back drop of their few followers.

Winger Gareth Ainsworth dispossessed Lewis Emanuel to put in a dangerous cross which Gus Uhlenbeek steered behind his own goal. From the corner, Davison's half-punch dropped to Shipperley whose snap-shot dribbled to safety off Ward.

City were screaming for hand ball after ten minutes when Emanuel's left-wing cross bobbled up and appeared to strike Mikele Leigertwood's arm as the Wimbledon defender cleared. But referee Grant Hegley was unmoved.

Claus Jorgensen warmed keeper Kelvin Davis' hands from 25 yards out a minute later as the midfielder looked to maintain his incredible scoring run.

But City had a scare at the other end after 15 minutes when Davison stretched to push out another teasing centre by Ainsworth. The ball fell invitingly for Shipperley but with the keeper scrambling, his effort was smothered by Uhlenbeek in the six-yard box.

Emanuel's persistence won City's first corner off Volz but the German headed out Michael Standing's curler at the near post.

Wimbledon, though, were carrying the bigger threat and after Gray had failed to clear inside his own box, Nigel Reo-Coker's volley was deflected over.

Ainsworth was the main supply line and it needed a reaction save from Davison at the midway point of the half to keep out Shipperley's downward header from another right-wing cross.

But City suddenly had the sniff of a goal as Ward slipped in Forrest on the right of goal and the teenager fizzed the ball across the goalmouth. Wimbledon's response was immediate with Connolly nearly conjuring something from nothing with a wicked shot on the turn.

Jorgensen produced a crunching tackle on Ainsworth midway inside City territory to turn defence into attack. He teed up Forrest who was crowded out but as City kept up the pressure, Standing floated an effort on to the top of the goal.

The action deserved a bigger audience as it continued to hot up with Connolly's trickery thwarted by Atherton.

And on the half hour City were in front. Standing, coming more into the game, crossed from the left and it was cleared as far as JORGENSEN who smashed it back past Davis from the angle of the penalty area with that lethal right foot.

It took his phenomenal record to six in six league games but Wimbledon should have been level within seconds. Straight from the re-start, Connolly snaked his way through but with only Davison to beat he blasted into the stand from eight yards.

Wimbledon were well on top in corners and from their ninth after 38 minutes Shipperley glanced off target from Ainsworth's kick when he probably should have done better.

City survived a bout of head tennis around the box from yet another corner as half-time approached. But there were concerned faces as Emanuel slumped to the ground after being caught painfully.

The teenager was unable to carry on and limped off three minutes before the break which meant a re-appearance for Cadamarteri, who had agreed a one-off deal to play.

The sub, whose left knee was heavily strapped, slipped into Emanuel's role in left midfield rather than going up front.

HT: Wimbledon 0 City 1

City had led in their first meeting at half-time only to end up losing.

And within two minutes of the re-start, their interval advantage had again been wiped out.

Connolly turned the provider with all the hard work from the left and his ball across the six-yard box was swept home by AINSWORTH.

It was a soft goal to concede and Nicky Law was not impressed on the sidelines.

But they should have gone back in front within three minutes after attacking in numbers.

With four men to aim at in the box, Gray's cross dropped invitingly for Cadamarteri unmarked at the far post. Standing was also there but Cadamarteri took it with his weaker left foot and wasted a golden chance.

Cadamarteri nearly made amends as he made room for Forrest who was squeezed out for City's third corner. Unfortunately it gave Davis the simplest of catching practice.

Cadamarteri then had a go from distance but the ball struck Mark Williams on the back.

He was getting closer and went nearer still after good strong running by Gray. Cadamarteri took the ball on 30 yards out and drove towards the box before unleashing a low power drive which Davis tipped behind.

And from the corner City were back in front with Ward claiming his first goal since August. Standing's corner was flicked on by forrest and WARD stretched to toe poke it home at the far post.

The City captain clattered into the post as he knocked it in but that didn't bother him in the slightest as he ended a long scoring drought.

Again Connolly tried a quick response but his effort came back off the City bar before Davison could claim.

Damien Francis then had the ball in the net but was offside.

Connolly must have thought he was never going to score. Davison plunged to his right to keep out a drive by Francis after 68 minutes and Connolly rapped the rebound against the foot of the post.

But two minutes later it was 2-2 with Connolly again credited with the assist. He delivered another fine run before setting up an easy tap-in for strike partner SHIPPERLEY.

Wimbledon sent on Patrick Agyemang with 15 minutes left in place of Darlington.

City made their second change on 83 minutes as Andy Lee saw his first action of the season in place of Forrest.

Wimbledon were close to a third with three minutes remaining as Reo-Coker got between Uhlenbeek and Standing to shoot narrowly over the angle.