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AFC Wimbledon will face Plymouth Argyle in this year’s League Two play-off final at Wembley.
Plymouth progressed after beating Portsmouth 3-2 on aggregate, whilst the Dons overcame Accrington Stanley by the same aggregate scoreline.
Lyle Taylor, who has been in devastating form for Neal Ardley’s side this season, scored the extra time winner to send the Dons to Wembley.
Despite losing the first leg at Kingsmeadow, Stanley took the lead after Josh Windass converted from the spot to level the tie, before Piero Mingoia’s stunning strike put Stanley ahead. But an Adebayo Akinfenwa header made it 2-1 on the night and level on aggregate, sending the game into extra time.
And Stanley were unable to recover as Taylor slotted home what proved to be the winner, sending Ardley’s side to Wembley on 30 May.
As for Accrington, it’s been a disappointing end to a phenomenal season. Having been in and around the playoffs all season, John Coleman’s side moved into the top three in the final month, but a goalless draw at home against Stevenage on the final day dropped them to 4th on goal difference behind Bristol Rovers.
While for the Dons, this will be their first Wembley appearance since their reformation back in 2002, and will be the club’s first appearance at England’s national Stadium since Wimbledon won the FA Cup back in 1988.
Manager Neal Ardley, who made over 300 appearances for the old Wimbledon FC, will lead them out at Wembley as the ninth-longest serving manager in the top four tiers of English football, and has the opportunity to take this new Wimbledon side to England’s third tier for the first time in their twelve year history, where they would face bitter rivals MK Dons after they suffered relegation from the Championship.
As for Plymouth, they drew their first leg at Fratton Park against Portsmouth 2-2, but a late strike from Peter Hartley sent Derek Adams’s side to Wembley.
The Pilgrims controlled much of the match and created more chances than their south coast rivals, but it took just one goal to send them through.
Plymouth, who have been in the top three for most of the season, would have been devastated to have dropped into the playoffs with just weeks to go, but after losing against Wycombe in the play-off semi-final last season, they’ve already gone one better, and will take it to the Dons when the sides meet at Wembley.
