Football | AFC Wimbledon 1 - 0 Notts County

AFC Wimbledon won 2-0 on aggregate 

Josh Neufville's stunning early goal sealed back-to-back wins over Notts County as AFC Wimbledon secured their spot in the League Two play-off final.

Author - Kris Stuart

The home side took a 1-0 lead into the game and Neufville settled any nerves on eight minutes as he chipped former Wimbledon goalkeeper Alex Bass to double his side's aggregate lead.

The away side, missing top scorers Alessandra Jatta and David McGoldrick through suspension and injury respectively, could not find a way through the league's meanest defence and the hosts spurned several chances in the second half to put the game out of sight.

AFC Wimbledon will face Walsall in the final at Wembley on Monday 26th May. An opportunity to to repeat their success of 2016 and gain promotion to League One. 

READ MORE | First Leg match report

READ MORE | AFC Wimbledon news and stories

Plough Lane feels like home again

The Wombles made an emotional return to Plough Lane five years ago as a League One outfit. Now, they stand on the verge of a return to the third tier, aiming to end a three-year absence.

No team in League Two have conceded fewer than the 35 goals let in by Johnnie Jackson's well-drilled side this season.

In the warmth of Saturday afternoon, they got off to the ideal start. Neufville showed composure to lift the ball over Bass and give the hosts an early lead.

AFC Wimbledon absorbed the Magpies’ pressure throughout the first half and created a string of chances after the break, largely through Marcus Browne. The forward was first denied by Bass and then by a last-ditch tackle from Jacob Bedeau, after latching onto a mistake by Matty Platt.

Had it not been for Bass’s outstanding goalkeeping, including a superb diving stop to keep out Matty Stevens’ header, the result could have been beyond doubt well before the final whistle.

As full-time approached, chants of "we're going to Wembley" rang out around the ground. Wimbledon now look ahead to a final under the arch, where they will face a Saddlers side who also triumphed in both legs of their play-off semi-final.