AFC Wimbledon winger Andy Barcham spurned a golden chance to salvage a point from the 1-0 defeat at Portsmouth – but he admitted he snatched at the opportunity.

A Michael Smith goal was enough to send Pompey home with all three points and cement their place in the League Two play-offs – something that the Dons were also trying to attempt.

Barcham admitted the post-match dressing room was full of disappointment, but they were still confident of getting the two points they need from two games to put their stamp on the final play-off berth.

“It was a difficult game, but it was a disappointing result – we wanted to secure our place in the play-offs so it’s bitterly disappointing that we could not do that,” he said.

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“It was tight and it was anxious because Portsmouth wanted to secure their place as well – it was difficult.

“There is disappointment in the dressing room because before the game we were ready and excited, we thought this was going to be it.

“But we’ve been telling each other that we have got to use that disappointment – don’t want that feeling again – and go into Saturday and do the business then so we cannot leave it to the last game.”

He added: “It’s still in our hands, and if we’d been offered this situation at the start of the season – to have two games to secure our place in the play-offs – we would have taken it.

“We know what we need to do, and we’re still confident we can do it.”

Barcham’s chance to level matters came via a rare mistake in the Pompey back line, but he skewed the shot from on the edge of the area wide of the far post.

He said: “There was a mistake and I got in – I should have hit the target at least and tested the keeper.

“It was one of those games where chances were few and far between so I probably just snatched at it. I was disappointed not to punish them, but it just was not meant to be.”

He added: “We thought it was a foul on Sean in the run-up to their goal, but it was not given and they have punished us – it was probably one of their only chances and they’ve taken it, so credit to them.”

Dons go to Stevenage this weekend.