Report by SJG

WIGAN ATHLETIC vs AFC WIMBLEDON

 25^th April 2026

DONS SMASH AND GRAB SECURES DIVISION ONE STATUS.

Latics ended up empty-handed as relegation-threatened AFC Wimbledon secured a 1-0 win in the final home game of the 2025/26 season. Constant pressure and good build-up play were not enough for Caldwell’s men as they failed to find the back of the net.                      

Even though Wigan’s survival was already secured, Caldwell stressed that the season is only over after 46 games, and that Latics had to be fully focused to pick up any kind of positive result.                                                        

For their part, Wimbledon came into this with their place in League One hanging on by a thread, sitting just two points above the drop zone.                                                                                                                

Caldwell made two changes to the starting lineup following the 0-0 draw versus Port Vale, with Captain Jason Kerr coming back into the side for Morgan Fox, and Harrison Bettoni replacing Dara Costelloe in the front three.                                                                           

Latics had the lion's share of the possession and created the greater chances, but nothing that carried enough substance to worry AFC Wimbledon goalkeeper Mcdonnell. Far too often good build-up play was unfortunately let down by a poor final pass or a wayward finish. The best chance of the half fell to AFC Wimbledon’s Layton Stewart in the 23rd minute, who was on the receiving end of a ball that rolled its way just in front of the six-yard box, but Sam Tickle got out quickly and pulled off an excellent save that kept the game level.      

Wimbledon failed to build on their first shot on target as Wigan continued to dominate nearly every aspect of the game.

Half Time; Wigan Athletic 0-0 AFC Wimbledon.

The second half started in similar fashion as Wigan continued to dominate possession. The visitors only outlet was a set piece or a counterattack, and this nearly proved to be effective for them as in the 57th minute, when Stewart found himself in a good position in the box before being baulked by a Carragher challenge that saw huge (and probably justifiable) penalty appeals from the visitors, but the referee was having none of it and ignored the appeals. Latics continued to knock on the door of the away side's goal, with Fraser Murray getting the closest in the second half, striking the ball cleanly from distance with great power, with the ball whistling just over the bar. Six minutes later, Latics went even closer when the ball bounced up nicely in the box following numerous blocked efforts for Joe Taylor, but his shot was poor and was cleared to safety.                                       

As the final period of the game approached the game began to become increasingly open with the hot conditions clearly taking some toll on both sides after the long season.       

Wimbledon now started to show some signs of encouragement and the realisation that one moment in front of goal could see them grab an unlikely three points to secure their future in the division seemed to give them increased impetus.                                                         

As the game entered injury time the Dons grabbed that crucial goal to break the deadlock through substitute Antwoine HACKFORD, who managed to cutely slot the ball home after reacting quickest to a low cross and turning home to secure the win.

Full Time; Wigan Athletic 0-1 AFC Wimbledon.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  

Attendance; 10,179

Scorer; Hackford (90+1).

Wigan Athletic (3-4-2-1) --- Tickle; Aimson, Kerr, Carragher; Murray, M. Smith, Weir, Raphael; Wright, Bettoni; Taylor; Subs--- Savin (G), Robinson (for Fox), Saydee (for Raphael), Fox (for Carragher), McManaman (for Bettoni), Costelloe, Vickers.

AFC Wimbledon (3-1-4-2) ---- McDonnell; Ogundere, Bauer, Johnson; Smith; Tilley, Maycock, Hippolyte, Seddon; Stewart, Nkeng; Subs--- Bishop (G), Hutchinson, Reeves, Sasu (for Stewart), Nelson (for Hippolyte), Hackford (for Nkeng), Asilmwe (for Tilley).

Referee; Mr. Matthew Corlett (Crosby)