AFC Wimbledon finished with a flourish as Omar Bugiel's stunning hat-trick led the way to a welcome win on the last day of the season.
The Dons were certainly not flattered by a 5-1 victory, producing a swashbuckling attacking display that swept aside a Walsall side that came into this game with an outside chance of sneaking into the play-off positions.
A fully deserved three points leapfrogged Walsall in the final table, meaning that Wimbledon finished 10th in the final table, vindication of a much-improved campaign that had offered hope of reaching the play-offs.
Though that ultimately proved beyond us, it was a highly encouraging season for everyone connected with the Club. A tally of 65 points was the second highest achieved by the Dons since we returned to the league in 2011, bettered only by 2016 and the season that ended with play-off final glory at Wembley.
With 8,000-plus crowds regularly cheering on the Dons at the Cherry Red Records Stadium and Johnnie Jackson's men producing an entertaining brand of football, there are plenty of positive signs pointing towards a promotion push next time around.
Johnnie Jackson made four changes to his starting line-up after the defeat at Tranmere with Lee Brown, Aron Sasu, Josh Kelly and James Ball replacing Joe Lewis, Jon-Joe O’Toole, John-Kymani Gordon and Ryan McLean. With Alex Bass still injured, Nik Tzanev retained his place between the sticks.
There was still a fair bit at stake heading into this match with Walsall still having a slim chance of gatecrashing the play-off positions, while the Dons were aiming for a top-10 finish. Wimbledon started on the front foot, showing a determination to finish with a flourish and the opening goal duly arrived in the ninth minute. It was a cracking way to make the breakthrough as Walsall were caught out thanks to a well-executed team goal. Jack Currie teed the ball up for Lee Brown on the left and he delivered a fantastic cross that Omar Bugiel met with a soaring header that left Walsall keeper Jackson Smith with no chance.
The opening goal was certainly deserved after a bright start from the Dons, but Walsall gradually came back into it and they were gift-wrapped an equaliser in the 25th minute. There appeared to be little danger when a cross was swung in from the Walsall right to the back post, but Kofi Balmer was adjudged to have brought down Mo Faal. Contact was minimal to say the least and it was highly debatable if a penalty was warranted, but the man in the middle had no hesitation in pointing to the spot and Isaac Hutchinson subsequently made no mistake from 12 yards.
After restoring parity, Walsall attempted to take the game by the scruff of the neck, but the Dons held firm and regained superiority. It was the same combination that teamed up for Wimbledon’s second with Brown again sending over a sumptuous cross that was just begging to be finished off and Bugiel proved up to the task with a clinical strike.
Though Bugiel had delivered the goods in front of goal, Brown’s display was every bit as impressive with the experienced defender producing an all-action performance that deservedly earned warm applause from the home faithful, in particular when he raced back to make an important tackle. As we approached half-time, Walsall put pressure on but the Dons remained resolute and Nik Tzanev showed his qualities by towering above the away attack to grasp the ball on more than one occasion.
The 2-1 half-time score in Wimbledon’s favour had certainly been merited, but a bit more of the same in the second-half was required to make it a welcome end to the season. The Dons subsequently delivered in spades, effectively sealing all the three points inside the first 10 minutes of the second-half. The third goal came about after another long Kofi Balmer throw-in, the defender’s delivery causing havoc in the box before Bugiel’s strike was deflected home to seal his treble. There was better to come with arguably the goal of the day following. Currie found space down the left for a cross and his delivery was headed on by Bugiel for Ronan Curtis, who found the net with an unstoppable strike.
All in yellow and blue were loving this now as they watched their team continue to pour forward in search of more. A helping hand from Walsall followed as Jake Reeves sent over a fantastic corner delivery that striker Faal headed home to make it 5-1.
With 65 minutes on the clock, Harry Pell was introduced for a pivotal moment as he stepped up to make his 500th career appearance, his CV including two spells with the Dons. Though no further goals followed, that didn't sour Dons delight on the final-day as Wimbledon ended the campaign with a superb overall display. Roll on next season!
AFC Wimbledon: Nik Tzanev, Lee Brown, Jake Reeves, Kofi Balmer (Isaac Ogundere), Ryan Johnson, Josh Kelly (John-Kymani Gordon), James Ball (Harry Pell), Omar Bugiel (Josh Davison), Ronan Curtis, Jack Currie, Aron Sasu (Josh Neufville).
