A thrilling victory ended the year on a real high for Wimbledon, as Johnnie Jackson’s men marched back into the League Two play-off zone.
The 5-3 score-line only really tells half the story, so eventful was this match and it’s no exaggeration to state that the goal count could easily have been double that tally!
Certainly, the manner of the win was the perfect response from the Dons after that Sutton setback earlier this week. Indeed, this swashbuckling attacking display signalled yet another goal fest for Wimbledon – the seventh time that Johnnie Jackson's men had struck four or more goals in a game this season.
Josh Davison and Joe Lewis both struck doubles with Ali Al-Hamadi also getting in on the act in his final home game before setting out for Asia Cup duty with Iraq. Colchester also ended the match with 10 men as Cameron McGeehan was sent off for a second bookable offence near the end, but that mattered little to the final outcome.
In terms of pure entertainment, this was an absolute Christmas classic and more of the same in 2024 will be warmly welcomed by all in yellow and blue.
Johnnie Jackson made three changes to his starting line-up after the Boxing Day defeat at home to Sutton. Joe Lewis was back in the heart of defence immediately after serving his one-match ban, with Alex Pearce having to settle for a place on the bench. Connor Lemonheigh-Evans and Josh Davison replaced James Tilley and Josh Neufville.
Eager to get back on track after that sobering derby defeat on Monday, the Dons started brightly with Ali Al-Hamadi providing the spark once again. It was a goal that was executed with beautiful simplicity with Al-Hamadi’s turbo-charged run down the right catching Colchester off guard. His subsequent cross was precision personified and it got the finish it deserved when Davison struck home in style.
However, there was barely time to celebrate that goal before Colchester had a gilt-edged chance to equalise. During an opening first 15 minutes that flowed from end to end, Matt Jay fired over the crossbar. The frantic start continued as Armani Little’s sublime defence-splitting pass picked out Al-Hamadi, but his powerful shot flashed over the crossbar.
After almost taking a 2-0 lead, Wimbledon were rocked by a Colchester equaliser in the seventh minute. From a Dons perspective, it was not good defending as Matt Jay was allowed space to find Cameron McGeehan in the box and he slotted home emphatically.
The Dons should have been back in front in the 24th minute when Connor Lemonheigh-Evans showed superb vision and plenty of composure to pick out Al-Hamadi. A goal seemed inevitable, but Al-Hamadi delayed his shot and Colchester keeper Owen Goodman was out quickly to deny him. That was certainly a turning point as the visitors made no mistake at the other end through Joe Taylor, who produced a smart finish after latching onto a through ball.
There was certainly more to come in terms of goalmouth incident, a header by Omar Bugiel well saved by Goodman, who also produced a good stop to deny Armani Little. Lemonheigh-Evans had certainly caught the eye with his skill and movement, but he just came up short after a fine solo run, the on-loan Stockport man eventually crowded out.
It appeared that the Dons would be trailing heading into the break, but Joe Lewis changed all that. A well delivered corner by Jake Reeves got the finish it deserved as the towering Welshman headed home brilliantly at the near post. Cue jubilation from all in yellow and blue, in particular from that man Lewis who slid on his knees in front of our ecstatic fans in the Cappagh Stand.
On the balance of play, the Dons deserved to at least be on level terms going into the break, though it would be no understatement to suggest that it could have been 4-4 at half-time, such was the all-action nature of this game.
Wimbledon started the second-half with all guns blazing and Al-Hamadi twice came close shortly after the restart, most notably when his shot from an acute angle was just off target. However, there was no denying his strike partner Davison in the 52nd minute as he made it 3-2 – the Dons in front again for the first time since the fourth minute.
It came about after a lovely through ball from Lewis, Davison controlling the ball with one sublime touch before finishing well from a narrow angle.
That made it four goals in four games for the in-form Dons marksman, who now boasted an even better record against Colchester – five in four games against the men from Essex! Indeed, minutes after scoring he was just unable to reach a loose ball in the box as the carrot of a first Dons hat-trick dangled tantalisingly in front of him.
There was little sign of the Dons settling for the slender one-goal advantage and Colchester keeper Goodman was forced into another fine save when he reacted well to deny Lemonheigh-Evans. However, that was only a temporary reprieve for Colchester and it was 4-2 in the 67th minute. Armani Little delivered a fantastic through ball that picked out Al-Hamadi and this time he showed his ruthless edge with a clinical finish to leave Goodman with no chance.
There was simply no stopping the Dons as an attacking force and the home faithful loved it, hungry for more goals to celebrate against a Colchester side now settling for damage limitation. Number five subsequently arrived through that man Lewis, who marked his return with another goal, reacting first to steer home after Goodman had saved substitute Harry Pell’s well-struck free-kick.
There was still time for Colchester – reduced to 10 men after McGeehan’s second yellow – to score a late consolation through Tom Dallison, but that failed to take the shine off a brilliant attacking performance from the Dons.
AFC Wimbledon: Alex Bass, Huseyin Biler, Jake Reeves, Ryan Johnson, Josh Davison (Josh Neufville), Ali Al-Hamadi, Armani Little, Omar Bugiel (Harry Pell), Connor Lemonheigh-Evans, Jack Currie, Joe Lewis.
Att: 8,062 (490 away)