With the fixtures having been released on Friday, we are turning the clock back to memorable matches against each of our opponents for 2020/21.
As we count down to AFC Wimbledon’s 10th successive season in the league, we take a look at a pivotal day for everyone connected with the club – the first League 2 match after promotion back in 2011.
3. Bristol Rovers
After a handful of meetings in the last Millennium, the Dons and Bristol Rovers have become regular adversaries in recent years. Here we recall the 2011 meeting when the Pirates hijacked AFC Wimbledon's League Two debut and stole away with all three points.
Saturday 6th August 2011: League Two
AFC Wimbledon (1) 2 Stuart 39; Ademeno 68
Bristol Rovers (2) 3 McGleish17, Harrold 20, Virgo (pen) 85
Wearing white in honour of their predecessors who had made their Football League debut back in 1977, the new Dons took to the League Two stage for the first time in front of the Sky cameras and a full house at Kingsmeadow. Having fought back to level the score from two goals down, there was late drama as Terry Brown’s men gave away a penalty, after Brett Johnson had fluffed his lines by handling, and slipped to an opening day defeat at the hands of the just relegated Rovers.
Early strikes from Scott McGleish and Matt Harrold put the Pirates 2-0 up and in total control after just 20 minutes. Wimbledon fashioned a spirited response which saw skipper Jamie Stuart pull a goal back after 39 minutes before substitute Charles Ademeno hit an equaliser with 22 minutes remaining. Then centre back Johnson handled inside his own area in the 85th minute and Adam Virgo did the rest with a perfect spot-kick into the top corner.
“It doesn't need me to tell you that individual errors cost us the game,” a disappointed Terry Brown said afterwards. “I said to the players at full time that if I could have written a nightmare scenario for the first league game that AFC Wimbledon have played, it would be giving away three soft goals like we conceded. We will have to improve.” The manager got his wish as by early October, after 12 games, the Dons were sitting pretty in 5th place.
Dons; Brown, Hatton, Stuart, Johnson, Gwillim (Bush 81), Yussuff, Porter (Minshull 62), Wellard, L Moore, Midson, Jolley (Ademeno 66).
The picture above shows Jamie Stuart heading home the Dons’ first Football League goal after promotion.
Dons v Gasheads (1967 to 2019)
|
Season |
Comp |
H |
A |
|
1967-68 |
FAC 1 |
0-4 |
|
|
1981-82 |
Div 3 |
1-0 |
2-2 |
|
1983-84 |
Div 3 |
1-1 |
1-1 |
|
2011-12 |
Lge 2 |
2-3 |
0-1 |
|
2012-13 |
Lge 2 |
3-1 |
0-1 |
|
2015-16 |
Lge 2 |
0-1 |
1-3 |
|
2016-17 |
Lge 1 |
0-1 |
0-2 |
|
2017-18 |
Lge 1 |
1-0 |
3-1 |
|
2018-19 |
Lge 1 |
1-1 |
0-2 |
|
2019-20 |
Lge1 |
1-3 |
2-1 |
|
Total W5 D4 L10 |
|||
This series is written by Stephen Crabtree, the editor of the Historical Don. To sample a copy contact him at stephecrab@aol.com .