Throughout July, Stephen Crabtree, the editor of The Historical Don, is selecting a memorable match from each season over the last three decades.
In the 22nd part of his series, he looks back to a special night when Wimbledon’s convincing victory against Fleetwood Town left them on the brink of a return to the Football League.
The picture above (taken by Paul Willatts) shows Kaid Mohammed and Danny Kedwell celebrating in front of our joyful supporters at the Cherry Red Records Stadium.
Wednesday 11th May 2011: Blue Square Bet play-off semi-final second leg
AFC Wimbledon (1) 6 Mohammed 1, 35, 63, Kedwell 28, Jolley 68, Mulley 80
Fleetwood Town (0) 1 Seddon 47
On a night of pure celebration, AFC Wimbledon moved into the final of the Conference play-offs after hitting Fleetwood for six. Nine years after being forced to start again in the Combined Counties League, the Dons were on the verge of regaining their Football League place. Potentially just 90 minutes away from blowing a huge raspberry at the FA, they reached the final in some style.
Already two up following an impressive performance in the first leg, Kaid Mohammed scored in the first attack and from then on it was only a matter of how many the Dons would score. The on-loan striker went on to seal his hat trick and the rout was completed with further goals from Danny Kedwell, Christian Jolley and James Mulley. As the stadium rocked, excited Dons fans could look forward to a date with destiny at the City of Manchester Stadium.
"My over-riding emotion is pride,” manager Terry Brown said afterwards. “We were magnificent. To think of where the club has come from and to be so close to being back to where we should be is fantastic. If we can do it inside ten years, these players can create history. We all know Wimbledon had their Football League place stolen from them and we want to give it back to them.”
AFC Wimbledon: Brown, Hatton, Gwillim (Yakubu 46), Gregory, Stuart, Johnson, Yussuff, Wellard, Kedwell (Mulley 72), Mohamed, Moore L (Jolley 57).
Of course, the 8-1 aggregrate semi-final victory led to that penalty shoot-out victory at Manchester, as Wimbledon sealed a place back in the league by edging out Luton Town. Dons fan David Burford captured Danny Kedwell's penalty and the jubilant scenes that followed!