A Danny Kedwell Penalty in the shoot out seals it for AFC Wimbledon as they out battled Luton in a proper game of British Football in the City of Manchester Stadium in front of 18,195.
In 9 years they have come from the combined Counties to the Football league and even got their replica FA Cup back from MK Dons who effectively took their franchise in the league. Terry Brown as honest as the day is long was magnanimous in victory feeling for Gary Brabin and his side as they went down 4-3 on penalties.
But first the teams & schemes, then the match report and finally the stats for the train spotters right at the end.
The Teams The Schemes
& Those That Carried The Dreams……….
AFC Wimbledon 4-4-2
Brown
Hatton Johnson (Y) Stuart Gwyllim
Moore (Y) Gregory Wellard Yussuff
Kedwell Mohamed
Substitutions
61 mins Yakubu on for Gwillim 67 Mulley on for Wellard 94 Minshull (Y) on for Gregory
Substitutes (5 in BSP)
G Turner D Yakubu M Mulley M Jolley M Minshull
Luton Town 4-3-3
Tyler
Gleeson G Pilkington Kroca Asafu-Adjaye
Keane (Y) Lawless (Y) Howells
Gnakpa Willmott Walker
Substitutions
61 Barnes-Homer on for Willmott 95 Newton on for Gnakpa
Substitutes (5 in BSP)
G Pilkington D Luke M Newton F Crow F Barnes-Homer
But to the Game Footy fans to the game..........
A game played at high tempo with few clear cut chances saw an early strike from Kedwell ruled out for offside. Both sides struck the Woodwork with Hatter Walker heading against a post and ditto Dons Mohamed
Like a bond film all the budget and special effects were kept for the last 10 minutes. Super sub Tyler wombled free, curling a peach parried by Tyler for a corner. Yakubu volleyed a delicious Hatton delivery scandalously wide. Gregory then drove another good effort for the Dons just wide as the Wombles rued their poor luck. Not for long as Walker went down for a stonewall, but ref Adcock allowed Brown and the Wombles to get away with it
With the Hatters hopping mad with the City of Manchester mercury well and truly rising sub Barnes-Horner and Howells both fluffed their lines .Luton felt thrice the charm to be the deciding factor on 89 minutes until Walkers header agonisingly came back off the inside of the post and into the arms of Brown. Kedwell would then dwell an age allowing Asafu-Adaye, thankfully his first name is just Ed, the time to slide in and block a cert.
The first period of extra time was a cagey affair with just Lawless, on last years losing side with York, firing an exocet inches wide from 30 yards. But the carpe Dium character returned over the last 15 with Yussuff doing a charge of the light brigade with the blue and yellow hordes screaming for justice after a 9 year climb. He fed Mulley, the weight of Atlas upon him, alas he fired down Tyler’s throat. Back came the hatters with Walker heading wide. End to end stuff it was with Mohamed shaking his head having looked a gift horse in the mouth and impaled it on a post.
The Dons had the affections of a nation on their side. It sent vital oxygen through the veins of tiring limbs as Luton wilted. They too have a sense of injustice from docked points but it was the Dons who carried the favours of the fates and they knew it. Luton got two last slices of luck as Gleeson miscued just wide of his own net and Yakubu headed Hatton’s cross wide of an open Hatters goal. So to penalties in front of the Wombles of Wimbledon common it be.
Brown saved double disaster Lawless’ opening kick to the Dons delight. Tyler then saved Mohammed’s penalty to bring it back to 2-2. Hero Brown clawed back Walker’s chipped effort before Ismail Yakubu and Jakes Howells both hit the target. Kedwell scoffed at the pressure by thumping home to kickstart the promotion party SW19 has been preparing for for quite some time.
AFC Wimbledon 0 Luton 0
Wimbledon win on Pens 4-3
Att: 18,195
Ref: James Adcock (Nottinghamshire).
Match Stats
Possession
Wimbledon 50% Luton 50%
Attempts on target
Wimbledon 7 Luton 10
Attempts off target
Wimbledon 10 Luton 4
Saves
Wimbledon 7 Luton 7
Corners
Wimbledon 8 Luton 9
Fouls
Wimbledon 12 Luton 12
Offsides
Wimbledon 5 Luton 0
Yellow Cards
Wimbledon 3 Luton 2