By Alfie Marlborough
We held this back on purpose. Alfie has a little wander down Memory Lane, please feel free to join him ……
On the 2nd December 2012 the Dons would take on fierce rivals AFC Wimbledon for the first time in both teams short-lived history.
As well as the winner booking their spot in the third round of the FA Cup – bragging rights were on the line with it. Over 16,000 supporters from both sides came to Stadium MK to watch a historic battle that was sure to provide some exhilarating stuff!
The Dons lined up like this:
Martin (GK), Otsemobor, Kay, S Williams, Lewington (C), Gleeson, Potter, Bowditch, Chadwick, Balanta, Lowe.
Stephen Gleeson created the first of many bits of history made that day late on in the first half. The midfielder picked up the ball 30 yards-out before hammering it home into the top right past Sullivan to give the Dons the lead they deserved.
The Dons almost made it two just minutes after the first through Ryan Lowe and Dean Bowditch. Lowe had an effort from close range saved by the goalkeeper who made 224 appearances for the old Wimbledon. Shortly after, Bowditch should have done better to double the lead but fired into the side netting from close.
Opportunities were few and far for the visitors but they made one count in the early stages of the second half through Midson who headed home past David Martin after Ajala’s cross.
Darren Potter’s mistake late on allowed the visitors to have a golden opportunity to surely win the game but former Wimbledon goalkeeper David Martin denied Steven Gregory from a one-on-one.
Deep into stoppage time, the Dons had a corner. The ball in was cleared by the defence but only as far as Ismail whose shot goal wards was met by Otsemobor’s heel in the middle of the box. His effort *somehow* landed in the back of the net to send Stadium MK into chaos as the Dons beat their arch-nemesis’ in some style.
Thank you Alfie that was just what we needed
