Walsall made their way to Wembley Stadium on Bank Holiday Monday as they took on AFC Wimbledon in the Sky Bet League Two Play-Off Final.Walsall got the action underway, and began the game brightly, winning the first corner of the match just four minutes into the contest as James Tilley was forced to turn the ball behind. Nothing would come of the flag-kick, however, as Alfie Chang's delivery evaded his teammates waiting in the box.
Wimbledon were allowed to see much of the early ball, though the Saddlers defences ensured they were unable to make the possession pay.
The game continued as a rather cagey encounter, although Wimbledon were presented with a chance to open the scoring, in the fourteenth minute, as Myles Hippolyte crossed the ball into the box for Mathew Stevens, but Nathan Asiimwe combined with shot-stopper, Tommy Simkin, to ensure the scores remained unchanged.
Things settled into something of a midfield battle as time wore on, with both sides seeing spells with the ball without creating much to trouble their opposition defences, although Hippolyte did see a twenty-second minute strike from outside the area sail narrowly wide of the upright.
Wimbledon got forwards again in the thirty-first minute, with Marcus Browne firing a low effort in on goal from distance, but Simkin was alert to the danger and did well to turn the shot behind.
Before the resulting corner could be taken, there was a pause in proceedings, allowing Harry Williams to receive attention from the Walsall medical team. It was soon determined that he would be unable to continue, and his place was filled by Oisin McEntee.
The flag-kick was eventually sent in by Tilley, but the Saddlers were eventually able to clear the danger.
The game continued as a rather cagey affair, with little action of note. Three additional minutes were added to end the first-half, during which time Wimbledon won a corner, which was initially cleared by the Saddlers, but eventually fell to Hippolyte, who fired home through a crowded box to send his side into the half-time break with a one-goal advantage
The teams returned unchanged after the break, and Wimbledon got the action back underway. Walsall began the second-half brightly, winning a corner just three minutes after the restart, as Joe Lewis turned the ball behind, though nothing would come of the flag-kick as Dons 'keeper, Owen Goodman gathered.
The Saddlers continued to enjoy a bright spell, with Nathan Asiimwe crossing the ball in towards the near post for Jamille Matt, but Riley Harbottle was able to clear off the line.
There was a brief halt to proceedings, in the fifty-first minute, allowing Asiimwe to receive attention from the Walsall medical staff. He was soon back on his feet and able to continue.
Play was paused again moments later though, as Riley Harbottle required attention from the Wimbledon medical team. He too was soon able to rejoin the action, as heavy rain began to fall.
Wimbledon found themselves in good position, in the fifty-seventh minute, as Stevens headed the ball on for Browne, but Taylor Allen was on hand to block his effort on goal, before Jake Reeves fired a follow up effort over the crossbar.
Walsall chose to make a double substitution, in the sixty-second minute, with Jamie Jellis and Jamille Matt making way for Albert Adomah and Levi Amantchi.
Amantchi found himself through on goal, just two minutes after his introduction, but being held back by a Dons defender, he was unable to get enough on the ball to beat Goodman.
The Saddlers continued to press, winning a corner in the sixty-eighth minute, as a George Hall effort was turned behind, though nothing would come of the flag-kick as the Dons were awarded a free-kick.
Wimbledon chose to make their first change of the afternoon, in the sixty-ninth minute, with Riley Harbottle making way for Isaac Ogundere.
The Dons went close to adding a second goal, moments later, as Josh Neufville found himself through on goal, but a superb stop from Simkin kept the Saddlers in the game.
Walsall opted to make their changes of the afternoon in the seventy-fourth minute, with Alfie Chang and Nathan Asiimwe making way for Charlie Lakin and Connor Barrett.
Wimbledon responded with a change of their own, just two minutes later, just three minutes later, as Matty Stevens was replaced by Josh Kelly.
The Saddlers won a corner, in the seventy-eighth minute, as Reeves put the ball behind, but Allen's ball in was cleared by Goodman and the Dons soon had the ball up at the other end, where they won a flag-kick themselves, although that would also come to nothing as Simkin punched clear.
Walsall won a free-kick in a promising position, five minutes from time, which Allen floated towards the back post, but David Okagbue's effort on goal sailed high over the crossbar.
The Dons chose to make two further changes to their line-up, as we reached the ninetieth minute, with Marcus Browne and Myles Hippolyte departing in favour of Aron Sasu and Callum Maycock.
Six additional minutes were added to end the match, but despite their best efforts, Walsall failed to create anything further of note, and the game was brought to its conclusion with Wimbledon winning by one-goal-to-nil. The Saddlers destined to spend another year in League Two.
| HIPPOLYTE (45+1') | |
| AT | WEMBLEY STADIUM |
| REFEREE | WILL FINNIE |