League Two play-off semi-final FT: AFC Wimbledon 1-0 Notts County (agg 2-0)
Neufville scores only goal in second leg, lobbing home early on
Dons won 1-0 in last Saturday's first leg at Meadow Lane
Wimbledon will play Walsall at Wembley on Monday, 26 May
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AFC Wimbledon 1-0 Notts County (2-0 agg)
If Notts County had a tall order, it's now into mountain to climb territory given they need two goals, at least, and are missing their 39-goal strike duo of Alassana Jatta and David McGoldrick.
Mai Traore is awaiting his first goal for the club in his 14th appearance, though this is only his third start in his defence.
AFC Wimbledon 1-0 Notts County (2-0 agg)
Mark Stallard
Former Notts County striker on BBC Radio Nottingham
Looking at the replay, it looked offside, so the goal shouldn't have stood.
Notts County have got to try and get a goal back, ideally before half-time.
AFC Wimbledon 1-0 Notts County (2-0 agg)
Mark Stallard
Former Notts County striker on BBC Radio Nottingham
Image source, PA MediaJosh Neufville has the composure to lob Alex Bass.
Nothing he could do about it. It's a real blow for Notts County.
Notts have to keep their heads, they have got a long game to play.
Josh Neufville
What a finish!
Josh Neufville nips in behind Lewis Macari down the Dons left, brings the ball under his spell with a brilliant first touch and then lofts an angled finish beautifully over former Dons stopper Alex Bass to send the home fans wild.
Wimbledon are within touching distance of Wembley.
Hint of offside in the build-up but it looks as though Neufville was onside, but one of his teammates had been pushing into an offside position when the ball was played.
AFC Wimbledon 0-0 Notts County (1-0 agg)
Image source, Rex FeaturesReally bright start from the visitors, and not just because of their kit.
Mai Traore can't quite rise high enough to get any direction on a high cross from the right and is then penalised for a high foot in the mixer as he tries an acrobatic attempt from a bouncing ball amid a scramble.
Positive stuff, getting the ball into the middle at every opportunity.
AFC Wimbledon 0-0 Notts County (1-0 agg)
Mark Stallard
Former Notts County striker on BBC Radio Nottingham
A positive start with Notts County on the front foot.
They are asking questions, asking if Wimbledon can defend.
This is what they wanted. They have got to go and score a goal at least.
AFC Wimbledon 0-0 Notts County (1-0 agg)
County frontman Mai Traore tumbles to turf under minimal contact in the box from Joe Lewis after a low ball in behind but ref Lewis Smith is not impressed and waves play on.
The Magpies fans felt the world was against them last week. This one was never a penalty though.
AFC Wimbledon 0-0 Notts County (1-0 agg)
Blue and yellow for the Dons but the Magpies are not in black and white, opting for their orange and white away strip, conjuring images of the Netherlands in the 70s.
If they can play like it then we're in for quite a show.
Sam Austin has the first sight of goal for the visitors but sees his 20-yard curler charged down.
AFC Wimbledon 0-0 Notts County (1-0 agg)
Adam Hassell
BBC Radio Nottingham commentator
You look through the list of players, there is a fantastic chance for everybody out there to become a hero.
There has only been one occasion so far this season - if you exclude the EFL Trophy - that at least one of (the injured) David McGoldrick and (suspended) Alassana Jatta haven't started.
That was away at Crewe in November. Notts County lost 2-0.
AFC Wimbledon 0-0 Notts County (1-0 agg)
We're under way. Will it be three London teams lining up at Wembley this season, or can Notts County complete an incredible turnaround?
AFC Wimbledon v Notts County - 1-0 agg (12:30 BST)
Image source, Rex FeaturesAs Chris Peddy has said, quite the atmosphere bubbling up in south west London...
The players have emerged into the sunshine.
Kick-off is moments away...
AFC Wimbledon v Notts County (1-0 agg, 12:30 BST)
Chris Peddy
BBC Sport at the Cherry Red Records Stadium
There's a loud roar all around the stadium as the players walk out in the sun in Plough Lane.
AFC Wimbledon captain Jake Reeves has called on the fans to "sing like you've never sung before" in his programme notes.
The Notts fans to my left are making a huge amount of noise as we count down to kick off so the home fans have a lot to contend with.
Those Magpies fans at the end are behind the goal in the Paul Strank Stand, how big could that prove if we go all the way to a penalty shootout?
AFC Wimbledon v Notts County - 1-0 agg (12:30 BST)
Image source, Rex FeaturesAFC Wimbledon manager Johnnie Jackson insists this semi-final tie is "by no means done" and has warned that Notts County pose a threat at Plough Lane.
Owen Goodman produced an inspired display in goal while the Dons defence stood firm in front of him in the first leg at Meadow Lane, where on another day the Magpies might have headed to London with a lead to take into the second leg.
Jackson told BBC Radio London: "I've been watching all these play-off games so far and there is always moments of chaos in them.
"It's the nature of these games, and it's about keeping your composure and keeping calm in chaotic moments.
"What we have done is excellent and we have given ourselves a goal lead at half-time in the tie. They are a good side, this is by no means done and they are not going to lie down.
"I expect more of the same - they will come full throttle and put us under pressure. We will have to produce the type of attitude that we showed (in the first leg) to see it through."
AFC Wimbledon v Notts County - 1-0 agg (12:30 BST)
Image source, Rex FeaturesIf you're looking for omens ahead of this one, the Magpies do have recent pedigree for pulling off remarkable play-off results.
Jodi Jones was part of the National League campaign in 2023 that saw Notts promoted back to the EFL despite leading for less than 60 seconds across their two play-off games.
He scored a last-gasp extra-time winner against Boreham Wood in their knockout semi-final at Meadow Lane as Notts fought back from two goals down, and he then went on to score in their 4-3 penalty shootout win against Chesterfield after a 2-2 draw after extra-time at Wembley.
"We are Notts County and in the last play-offs we did it the hard way," Jones said.
"That speaks for itself. You can see it all over social media, reminding the guys."
This is just the second time that AFC Wimbledon have been involved in the Football League play-offs, their previous appearance came in 2015-16 in League Two where they beat Accrington Stanley 3-2 after extra time in the semi-finals before overcoming Plymouth Argyle 2-0 at Wembley in the final to secure promotion to the third tier, where they remained until 2022.
Dons skipper Jake Reeves, now in his third spell with the club, was part of the celebrations that day, and is also a former Magpies player.
AFC Wimbledon v Notts County - 1-0 agg (12:30 BST)
Image source, Rex FeaturesWinger Jodi Jones has no doubt Notts County can get past AFC Wimbledon, despite losing the first leg of their semi-final as well as their two top scorers.
Leading marksman Alassana Jatta - who has netted 22 times in all competitions this term - is suspended for the game after being sent off last Saturday while David McGoldrick, who has contributed 17 goals this term at the age of 37, was injured moments earlier.
"We go there knowing we need to win - it's on us," Jones told BBC East Midlands Today.
"We need to go there and put on a performance. And I believe we can. We opened them up (at home) and their keeper made some fantastic saves," Jones said.
"It gives us full belief in the next fixture, that if we go and do what we did and have the chances that we did, we will put them away and it will be a different story."
Even with Notts' attack losing its two focal points, Jones remains defiant about his side's chances of fighting back in the tie.
"They will probably be buzzing that he [McGoldrick] is not playing, but we will have something different now and I believe we have enough," Jones said.
"Of course, people will say where are the goals going to come from? It's a tough one to take, but we have enough quality in the squad."
AFC Wimbledon v Notts County - 1-0 agg (12:30 BST)
Image source, OptaJohnnie Jackson has named an unchanged Dons XI from the first leg, perhaps understandably.
Sam Hutchinson is out after undergoing a heart procedure while there is no Omar Bugiel on the bench after his impactful spell as a sub in the first leg.
Stuart Maynard has been forced into two Magpies changes from the first leg, with Alassana Jatta suspended and David McGoldrick injured.
Mai Traore is handed a start leading the line with Charlie Whitaker coming in to play in from the left of the attack.
Image source, OptaAFC Wimbledon v Notts County - 1-0 agg (12:30 BST)
Image source, Rex FeaturesAFC Wimbledon defender Sam Hutchinson has undergone heart surgery after being taken ill following a game earlier this month.
The 35-year-old former Chelsea and Sheffield Wednesday player suffered what the club describes as "heart complications" after the 1-0 win at Grimsby Town on 3 May - where he scored the only goal (pictured).
Hutchinson was the only change made by Johnnie Jackson for the first leg at Meadow Lane, with Myles Hippolyte coming into central midfield in his stead.
In a statement the Dons say he "had a successful procedure at the end of last week in London and he now has a clear return to play plan in place."
Hutchinson joined the club in December after leaving Reading and made 18 appearances as Wimbledon finished fifth.
"Everyone at Wimbledon extends their best wishes to Sam who is now recovering at home with his family," the statement added.
"Whilst he is recovering, Sam continues to have an impact on the squad and we are hopeful we can end the season positively for Sam.
"The club would like to place on record their sincere thanks for the support and care provided at Queens Medical Centre and City Hospital in Nottingham, as well as Cleveland Hospital in London."
AFC Wimbledon v Notts County - 1-0 agg (12:30 BST)
Image source, Rex FeaturesDavid McGoldrick will miss what remains of Notts County's League Two play-off campaign because of injury.
The 37-year-old former Republic of Ireland striker, who netted 17 times this season, limped off the pitch in stoppage time of the Magpies' 1-0 semi-final first-leg defeat by AFC Wimbledon last Saturday.
The injury means Notts are without both their top two scorers for this second leg after leading marksman Alassana Jatta was shown a straight red card soon after McGoldrick's exit for a two-footed tackle on Alistair Smith.
With McGoldrick and Jatta out after scoring a combined 39 goals in all competitions this term, Notts head coach Stuart Maynard said the East Midlands side will "change tactically" for Saturday's second leg at Plough Lane.
"We don't have that focal point and we will have to look at it in a different way with a different approach," Maynard told BBC East Midlands Today.
"Didzy has just got magic. He has more quality than the level, he has top-end quality and we have seen that with his goals all season.
"It's down to us now, someone else comes in and gets an opportunity and I think we still have magic within our group and the top end of the pitch.
"I still think he has a key part to play off the pitch now around the lads," Maynard said. "His presence, being about the place, is excellent."
AFC Wimbledon v Notts County - 1-0 agg (12:30 BST)
Image source, Rex FeaturesThere will have been plenty of interest among AFC Wimbledon and Notts County fans as Walsall beat Chesterfield with a late flourish last night to secure their place in the League Two play-off final at Wembley.
Jubilant fans entered the pitch after Levi Amantchi scored in added time, moments after Armando Dobra's equaliser, as the Saddlers followed up Sunday's 2-0 victory with a second win over the Spireites in a week.
Substitute Charlie Lakin was set up by fellow sub Albert Adomah just six minutes after the pair came off the bench to give the hosts the lead on the night and open up a three-goal lead with less than 10 minutes remaining.
Dobra scored a consolation for the visitors in added time, before Amantchi made up for an earlier miss to send the Walsall fans into bedlam with next to no time left.
You can read the match report here.
The Saddlers will face the winner of this afternoon's tie in the final on Monday, 26 May (15:00 BST).
AFC Wimbledon v Notts County - 1-0 agg (12:30 BST)
Josh Neufville's early goal settled the nerves for AFC Wimbledon at the Cherry Red Records Stadium
Josh Neufville's early goal sealed back-to-back wins over Notts County as AFC Wimbledon secured their spot in the League Two play-off final.
The Dons took a 1-0 lead into the game and Neufville settled any nerves on eight minutes as he expertly chipped former Wimbledon goalkeeper Alex Bass to double his side's aggregate lead.
Notts, missing top scorers Alessandra Jatta and David McGoldrick through suspension and injury respectively, could not find a way through the league's meanest defence and the hosts spurned several chances in the second half to put the game out of sight.
Johnnie Jackson's side will face Walsall in the final at Wembley on Monday, 26 May.
AFC Wimbledon will face Walsall for a place back in League One after three years in the fourth tier
The Wombles made an emotional return to Plough Lane at the Cherry Red Records Stadium five years ago as a League One side and now have the opportunity to return to the third tier after a three-year absence.
No League Two side have conceded fewer than the 35 goals that Johnnie Jackson's side have let in this season.
And in the Saturday afternoon sun they made the perfect start with Neufville's early goal, as he calmly lobbed Bass.
The hosts withstood the Magpies' pressure in the first half and in the second had multiple chances through Marcus Browne to seal the win, with the forward denied by Bass and then a last-ditch challenge from Jacob Bedeau after capitalising on Matty Platt's mistake.
But for some inspired keeping from Bass and a remarkable diving save to keep out Matty Stevens' goalbound header, the hosts would have put the game to bed long before the end.
The fans chanted "we're going to Wembley" as they closed in on the win and a place in the final under the arch where they will take on a Saddlers side who also won both legs of their play-off semi-final.
Notts County goalkeeper Alex Bass produced a stunning save to keep out Matty Stevens' goalbound header
From the outset, this was a tough assignment for Notts County – taking on the league's meanest defence while missing their two top scorers.
Jatta's red card at Meadow Lane ruled him out of the tie while McGoldrick was missing through injury, with the pair accounting for 39 goals between them this season.
Guinean striker Mai Traore was the player trusted by Stuart Maynard to step into that void, making just his third start for the club and having not yet scored since moving to Meadow Lane in February.
The 25-year-old made lots of purposeful runs in behind to stretch the Wimbledon defence but rarely tested goalkeeper Owen Goodman as Notts, who were playing National League football two seasons ago, managed just one shot on target despite having 73% possession.
AFC Wimbledon boss Johnnie Jackson told BBC Radio 5 Live:
"It was an unbelievable goal from Josh, he got in behind, controlled it. It's a goal worthy to win any game, any tie.
"We probably should have made it a little more comfortable with some of the chances we had in the second half on the counter attack.
"But we knew 1-0 would be enough today, so that's brilliant."
On his players' achievement:
"They're such a great group of lads, they give everything for me, for the club, for the shirt - I can't ask for any more.
"If it hadn't gone our way today, it wouldn't have been through lack of effort or endeavour so I'm so pleased for them. They deserve their shot."
Notts County head coach Stuart Maynard told BBC Radio Nottingham:
"First and foremost, I'm devastated for the fans who were absolutely incredible today.
"On the game, it was very tough. I thought we started very bright on the edge of their box and we were camped in there quite a lot with a few efforts here and there.
"Then we conceded a very sloppy goal, and in these big games you just can't give a team of Wimbledon's quality at home, with their defensive record, a leg-up. That is what we have given them.
"Sometimes it's the type of goal you concede. We conceded a goal you shouldn't really concede, it's defensively poor from us as a group and it's frustrating.
"If he comes inside and puts one in the top corner, I think it's a different feeling and we come back. But it deflates you a little and goals change games.
"It made it a very up-hill battle. In the second half the frustration creeps in and I don't think we stick to the way we played in the first half, so it's frustrating."
Manager: Johnnie Jackson
Formation: 3 - 5 - 2
Manager: Stuart Maynard
Formation: 3 - 4 - 1 - 2
Manager: Johnnie Jackson
Formation: 3 - 5 - 2
Manager: Stuart Maynard
Formation: 3 - 4 - 1 - 2
League Two
All competitions
All competitions
All competitions
AFC Wimbledon have won six of their seven Football League meetings with Notts County (L1), keeping four clean sheets in the process.
Notts County have lost all three of their away games against AFC Wimbledon in all competitions, conceding at least two goals each time.
After remaining unbeaten between December and February on home soil in League Two (W6 D2), AFC Wimbledon ended the regular season with two wins in their final seven home league games (D2 L3), though one of those victories was against Notts County in March (2-0).
During the League Two regular season, only Doncaster Rovers recorded more wins (12) and points (41) in away games than Notts County (W10 D7 L6 – 37 points), only losing one of their final five away league games in 2024-25 (W3 D1).
AFC Wimbledon have kept 22 clean sheets across their League Two games this season, including one in the first leg of this play-off tie. The Dons have also conceded the fewest goals (35) and faced the fewest shots on target (132) of any side in the division in 2024-25 (inc. play-offs).
During the regular season in League Two, Notts County scored more goals on the road than any other side (37) as well as posting the third-highest xG total (34.7), with eight of their 10 wins coming via a 2+ goal margin.
As well as scoring the winner in the first leg of this play-off tie, AFC Wimbledon’s Riley Harbottle also lead all players for most tackles (5, level with Myles Hippolyte), possession won (6) and duels won (12). It was just the second time a player hit those numbers in a League Two match this campaign after Timothée Dieng for Cheltenham Town vs Swindon Town in March.
In the first leg, Notts County’s Conor Grant recorded four shots on target, with only David McGoldrick managing more in a League Two game for the club this season (5 vs Accrington Stanley in September). In fact, Grant had 23.5% of his total shots on target during the whole of this campaign in the first leg.
