AFC Wimbledon 1-0 Walsall: FLW report as Hippolyte fires Wombles to League Two play-off final glory | OneFootball

FLW report from the League Two play-off final

AFC Wimbledon returned to League One after three seasons away as Myles Hippolyte's fizzing strike two minutes into first-half stoppage time proved the difference against Walsall at Wembley Stadium.

The Dons were backed by north of 30,000 supporters as the 30-year-old proved the hero as he fired past Tommy Simkin after an initial corner wasn't cleared by the Saddlers, with Johnnie Jackson's side then seeing off an onslaught of pressure in the second half, showing their extremely strong defensive prowess on the biggest stage of all.

Despite seeing off Chesterfield in the semi-finals, a season which promised so much for Mat Sadler's side for large portions has ended in disappointment, and they will have to regroup and mount yet another promotion bid in League Two next season.

AFC Wimbledon 1-0 Walsall

In a match-up of the fourth-tier's best attack and meanest defence, a cagey start was expected and proved to be the case. The Saddlers failed to make the most of the game's first meaningful attack, as David Okagbue couldn't connect with the first corner after three minutes.

Taylor Allen was then allowed to drift into a midfield, with Liam Gordon picking out Jamie Jellis with an inviting cross from the left. However, the playmaker's neat header was easily blocked by Ryan Johnson.

The Wombles' first opportunity to test Tommy Simkin came after 14 minutes as a Riley Harbottle long throw was recycled by Myles Hippolyte, but top scorer Matty Stevens was unable to find the required touch inside the six-yard box.

Hippolyte was the first player to fashion a clear-cut opening seven minutes later. Alastair Smith made the most of Ryan Stirk's loose pass and fed his midfield colleague, who dragged a fizzing effort wide of Simkin's left-hand post.

On the half-hour mark, Marcus Browne was given the time and space to fire a low shot towards the bottom left-hand corner once again, with the Walsall 'keeper getting a strong hand on the strike, turning it behind for a corner. Sadler was then forced into a change as Oisin McEntee replaced the injured Harry Willams, although the aforementioned set-piece would come to nothing.

Walsall would then be grateful for Allen's heroics six minutes before the break as Stevens set Smith away as a gap emerged among the Saddlers backline, with the centre-back able to close the Wombles midfielder down in the nick of time as he took aim from 18 yards out.

As three minutes of added time were allocated, it was the South London side who finished the stronger, and they were rewarded for their perseverance as Hippolyte fired a stunning strike through bodies and past Simkin after an initial corner and a fierce half-volley from Browne wasn't adequately dealt with by the Walsall rearguard.

With 45 minutes left to save their season, Walsall started the second period with the bit between their teeth and somehow didn't draw themselves level on 50 minutes, with Jamille Matt getting in front of Owen Goodman, but the striker was frustrated after a heroic goal-line clearance from Joe Lewis denied him a 13th of the season.

Five minutes later, Jackson's men looked to put breathing space between the two sides on the scoreboard, but Browne was denied once more as his strike on the turn was blocked by Nathan Asiimwe, before the vastly experienced Jake Reeves saw an audacious effort with the inside of his right foot rise high of Simkin's net.

Sadler turned to his bench for fresh attacking impetus as the duo of Albert Adomah and Levi Amantchi replaced Matt and Jellis, with the latter able to evade the pressure of Lewis before firing straight into the hands of Goodman just a minute after stepping onto the pitch.

Halfway into the second period, Birmingham City loanee George Hall continued the wave of Walsall dominance, but he would see a powerful effort deflected behind for a corner which resulted in a Wimbledon free-kick after a coming together between Okagbue and Johnson.

Simkin then kept his side in the contest after McEntee let a flick-on from Browne fall into the path of semi-final hero, Josh Neufville, with the 20-year-old quick to get a vital hand on the left-wing-back's close-range strike.

With 15 minutes remaining, Gordon was able to step away from James Tilley and fire an inviting ball into the box, but it proved too powerful for Amantchi as the ball evaded the Reds substitute.

As time ticked away for Walsall, a free-kick from Allen was only partially dealt with. However, it fell to the left foot of Okagbue, who fired wide of the target under immense pressure from three Wimbledon players.

The side from the West Midlands continued to push for an equaliser as six minutes of added time were issued, with their captain once again drifting into the box, but he would be frustrated once more as substitute Isaac Ogundere was alert to the danger.

Referee Will Finnie then called time on a cagey encounter, sending the blue-and-yellow-coated side of Wembley into delirium, as they can prepare for life back in League One.

FT: AFC Wimbledon 1-0 Walsall

Player Ratings

AFC Wimbledon

Owen Goodman - 7

Riley Harbottle - 7 (Ogundere 69" - 6)

Joe Lewis - 7.5

Ryan Johnson - 7

James Tilley - 7

Alistair Smith - 7.5

Jake Reeves - 7.5

Myles Hippolyte - 8 (Maycock 90" - N/A)

Josh Neufville - 7

Matty Stevens - 6 (Kelly 77" - 6)

Marcus Browne - 6.5 (Sasu 90" - N/A)

Unused Subs: Lewis Ward, James Ball, Joe Piggott

Walsall

Tommy Simkin - 6.5

David Okagbue - 6.5

Harry Williams - 6.5 (McEntee 34" - 6.5)

Taylor Allen - 7

Nathan Asiimwe - 6 (Barrett 74" - 6)

Alfie Chang - 6 (Lakin 74" - 6)

Ryan Stirk - 6

Liam Gordon - 6.5

Jamie Jellis - 6.5 (Adomah 62" - 6)

George Hall - 6

Jamille Matt - 6 (Amantchi 63" - 6)

Unused Subs: Sam Hornby, Brandon Comley

AFC Wimbledon vs Walsall Attendance

The attendance at Wembley for the League Two play-off final was 50,947.

Johnnie Jackson reacts as AFC Wimbledon seal promotion to League One

"Unbelievable day, so proud of everyone," he began. "To see Wembley full of blue and yellow today, the support we had, I think 30,000+ in the end, shows what this club's about.

"To be able to deliver and repay the faith that's been shown in me to take this club forward, I'm so pleased with it.

"It's the best day in my whole career. Playing, managing and coaching," Jackson stated. "I've had success with both. But, to get that success as a manager, to be able to lead the team out today was a privilege in itself. But, to go on and win the game was the icing (on the cake), really.

When asked for his thoughts on whether he felt his team weren't under much threat from Walsall, the 42-year-old responded: "It felt that way.

"Sometimes you see it differently and feel differently on the touchline. But, I did feel that we deserved it, I felt we had the better moments in the game.

"I knew it'd be a close game," he claimed. "Two very evenly-matched teams. I expected it to go the way it did, but you obviously hope you can come up with the moment of quality.

"I think we had the better moments and the goal is the defining moment. For Myles (Hippolyte) to pop up at that time, I thought it was a good time to score, to give us the goal at half-time.

"We've been good at defending this season, so to see it through was great."

The Dons boss was then quick to pay tribute to Hippolyte, who was named Player of the Match for his contributions.

"I think it was his best performance in a Wimbledon shirt, to be honest," Jackson said of the match-winner.

"He's a man for a big occasion, he enjoys being in these moments because he's not afraid to express himself.

"I'm pleased for him because he's had an up-and-down season as far as injuries and stuff like that (are concerned). He started the season really well and got injured, missed a big chunk, took his time to get back into the team and back to his level.

"He's arrived back at the highest level he's been at all season at the right time in the past few games. He's been excellent. I think it culminated in the winning performance today," Jackson concluded.

Mat Sadler's verdict as Walsall's season ends in Wembley heartbreak

When asked for his immediate thoughts on a frustrating end to the season, Sadler began: "Reflecting on the game today. I thought in the first half, we didn't quite impose ourselves on the game the way we wanted to."

"It was a tough hit losing Harry (Williams). Our best wishes are with him, it looks like he's got a bit of a bad injury there. I thought Oisin (McEntee) came on and did well, but its always difficult circumstances with that.

"You're just trying to get to half-time (at 0-0). But, unfortunately, the one bit of quality in the game showed and told. It's a great finish by the lad, but that was a disappointment," he added.

"Second half, I thought we gave it a go, and we played the way we want to play," Sadler continued. "We were a bit braver in possession, showed a bit more courage in trying to work it out wide, and just increase the tempo from ourselves, which you naturally have to do when you're behind. But, that's the way we wanted to play to begin with.

"That was the disappointment and my assessment from the game, and when those half-chances came from us, obviously, Jamma (Matt) had his chance. I thought Levi (Amantchi) had a good chance - I thought he was pulled back for that - but those moments that were few and far between for both teams, we didn't quite have the quality on the day to finish them off."

When asked what the overriding feeling in the dressing room was, the Saddlers boss responded: "We got together, as we always do.

"I'd be lying if I remembered word-for-word because I don't, but the biggest thing for me is pride of the group, proud of who they are, how they've moved their careers forward and everything they've given every day.

"They're an incredible group to work with, incredible people and lots of them are at the start of their journeys.

"For us, you have to use these things as motivation and fuel. When you're stood there, and you're watching those celebrations, it's like slow torture if you're not the one who is celebrating. That fire and raw emotion, let's use it for a positive," the Walsall boss concluded.