AFC Wimbledon revel in reaching League One after edging out Walsall in playoff final

The Guardian

26-05-2025

This was another triumphant day for south London in Wembley. Sunday brought Charlton promotion to the Championship; Monday took AFC Wimbledon back to League One after three years away, a bullet hit from Myles Hippolyte in first-half stoppage time enough to deny Walsall.
The contest was low on thrills but style is not what makes this occasion grand. Until Hippolyte found the bottom right corner, it had looked a match set for sudden death, likely to be decided by either Tommy Simkin or Owen Goodman, two impressive young goalkeepers. And while Walsall were shaken into action in the second half, Wimbledon's solidity shone through, Joe Lewis impenetrable in central defence. They celebrated victory and a clean sheet, just like they'd done at this venue nine years ago, when they last advanced to the third tier.
This was billed as the division's leading goalscorers against the tightest defence, Wimbledon having shipped in just 35 during the regular season. But that line evades the whole truth; Walsall were free-scoring in the first half of the campaign, 2025 beginning with a 12-point lead at the top, grateful for the 18 goals supplied by the on-loan Nathan Lowe. Then came his recall to Stoke and the ugliest of slides: three wins in their final 21 matches, automatic promotion denied on the final day by Bradford's late, late win over Fleetwood Town.
Mat Sadler's side had enough resolve to advance past an in-form Chesterfield in the playoff semis, while Wimbledon's solidity was present against Notts County, Goodman, on loan from Crystal Palace, producing two shutouts. There was no need for a Guardiola-esque overthink; both sides strode out unchanged.
Goodman began in front of his own supporters, blue and yellow balloons bouncing away, their voices strong even if the early exchanges were completely uneventful. Wimbledon were more willing to keep the ball grounded and produced the first shot after more than 20 minutes on the board, the lively Hippolyte firing wide from just outside the area. Half an hour was required for a strike on target, Marcus Browne forcing Simkin to get low down to his left. The neutral could have been forgiven for changing channels.
Wimbledon were the only ones threatening danger, Walsall's punts forward swept away comfortably by the blue backline. Then came the first true moment of quality, just before the break. Browne's volley met a block in the area but retreated to the waiting Hippolyte inside the D, his first-time strike into the ground beating the shirts in front as well as Simkin. Walsall had played like a side ready to grind through extra time but more urgency was required.
It came quickly in the second half. Nathan Asiimwe's cross from the right-hand side found Jamille Matt advancing towards the front post, his cute touch guiding the ball through the legs of the onrushing Goodman. But the lack of pace allowed Riley Harbottle to retreat and hack the ball off the line.
Sunshine retreated in place of a steady downpour and the hour-mark brought the introduction of Albert Adomah, 37 years young and a Championship playoff winner with Aston Villa in 2019. His fellow substitute, Levi Amantchi, had a dinked effort saved comfortably by Goodman but Walsall had finally begun to launch waves.
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A terrific stop from Simkin denied Josh Neufville from close range as the legs tired and spaces opened up but it would not spur on Walsall. The prestige of the arch could not revive a season that lost its way a long time ago.