Dean Parrett caps remarkable fightback for AFC Wimbledon – Dons take major step towards safety
Walsall 2
Fitzwater 6 Ngoy 45
AFC Wimbledon 3
Pigott 48 Taylor 65 Parrett 90
By Dave Hunt-Jackson at Banks’s Stadium
AFC Wimbledon won an absolute thriller as Dean Parrett’s last-gasp penalty capped a remarkable comeback for the South London outfit in a relegation six-pointer.
The Dons fought back from a two-goal half time deficit to climb above their hosts in the table and massively boost their hopes of League One survival.
Manager Neal Ardley made just one enforced change to the side that beat Charlton Athletic on Tuesday night with fit-again Darius Charles replacing Will Nightingale, who had not recovered from his midweek knock.
The resolute defending that had seen the Dons hold firm against the promotion-chasing Addicks was nowhere to be seen against fellow strugglers Walsall in a woeful first half.
Wimbledon gifted the Saddlers a two-goal lead. First they switched off, allowing Erhun Oztumer’s free-kick all the way across a crowded box for Jack Fitzwater to divert the ball past George Long and give the home side a lead their dominance to that point had deserved.
Worse was to follow as both Charles and Deji Oshilaja were turned in one movement by Julien Ngoy as he doubled the lead as the normally solid defensive pairing got their wires crossed.
With Wimbledon so goal shy all season the chances of scoring more than once in one half – even against a poor-looking Saddlers side – looked unlikely to say the least. Their performance in the first period gave no reason to expect what was to come.
Andy Barcham had entered the fray following injury to Harry Forrester and it was his tricky run that handed the Dons a lifeline as he was brought down in the area to earn AFC Wimbledon the first of two penalties. Lyle Taylor’s spot-kick was well-saved by Liam Roberts in the Walsall goal, as was his follow-up tap towards the line palmed away by the keeper, but Joe Pigott was first to the subsequent loose ball and the Dons were back in it just three minutes into the second half.
Wimbledon grabbed that lifeline with both hands and put Walsall to the sword with a second-half display of total commitment and total passion, roared on by 733 away supporters including many enjoying the annual volunteers day with thanks to sponsors Cherry Red Records.
They could have been level before Taylor’s stunning volley beat Roberts with the same player having thundered another volley against the upright. When Taylor did make it 2-2 with 25 minutes to go, Wimbledon laid siege to the home goal but could not find a way past the desperate defence of a Walsall side who began the day just two points above the Dons at the wrong end of table.
It was six minutes into injury time when substitute Kory Roberts was adjudged to have pulled Taylor down and after his earlier miss it was left to Parrett to calmly despatch the winning spot kick past Liam Roberts and cue wild celebrations with the fans behind the goal.
With another struggling side in the shape of Oldham visiting The Cherry Red Records Stadium on Saturday, Ardley’s men will surely be confident of ensuring their survival with games to spare.
AFC Wimbledon (4-3-1-2): Long 7, Meades 7, Fuller 7 (Francomb 82), Oshilaja 8, Parrett 8, Soares 6 (Abdou 46, 7), Charles 7, Trotter 7, Forrester 6 (Barcham 33, 8), Taylor 8, Pigott 9. Not used: McDonnell, Robinson, Kennedy, Sam.