Wimbledon move within touching distance of League Two play-off spots with win over Notts County

BY JACK BURGESS

AFC Wimbledon secured a dramatic 4-2 victory against promotion-chasing Notts County at Plough Lane.

The opening 25 minutes saw Wimbledon struggle to get out of their own half, with County dominating possession. However, a resolute Wimbledon defence prevented their opponents from creating any real goalscoring opportunities.

The first meaningful opportunity of the match fell for Ali Al-Hamadi in the 28 minutes, when Armani Little sent the newly capped Iraq international through on goal, with Sam Slocombe able to pull off a fantastic save, although the ball fell to Lemonheigh-Evans, who went down under a challenge and won his side a penalty. 

Captain Jake Reeves stepped up and converted the penalty to put Wimbledon into the lead.

Wimbledon were able to double their lead in the 41st minute when John Bostock was robbed of possession in his own half by Al-Hamadi, who took the ball around Slocombe and finished into an empty net to put Wimbledon 2-0 up.

Al-Hamadi almost completed a first-half hat-trick after latching onto a Lemonheigh-Evans ball in behind, with Slocombe making the save this time.

Macauley Langstaff pulled a goal back for County in the 62nd minute after Lemonheigh-Evans conceded possession cheaply in his own half.

The visitors almost equalised a minute later through Aaron Nemane, whose effort at the far post was saved by Alex Bass.

Wimbledon almost restored their two-goal lead through Josh Davison, who dragged his left-footed effort wide on the left-hand side of the box.

County then went up the other end and found an equaliser through the lively Nemane, who brought down a lofted cross before cutting in and finishing on his left foot.

County almost completed the comeback in the 76th minute, with Sam Austin swinging a ball into the box and Langstaff forcing Bass into a fine point-blank save to keep Wimbledon level.

Wimbledon were awarded a second spot-kick of the match after Jack Currie was hauled down in the penalty area. Captain Reeves dispatched a second spot kick of the match to put the south Londoners back in the lead.

Ali Al-Hamadi put the icing on the cake when he robbed Kyle Cameron of the ball at the halfway line before calmly slotting past Slocombe to add a fourth.

The win sees Wimbledon record back-to-back wins in League Two and move up to eighth in the table.

PICTURES: KEITH GILLARD