AFC Wimbledon 1-0 Accrington Stanley

Tom Beere was AFC Wimbledon's super-sub as he made himself a hero by netting a dramatic late winner against Accrington Stanley.

It was the midfielder's first goal in professional football and what a time to get it as he netted on the stroke of full time to give the Dons a lead to protect in the second leg on Wednesday.

George Francomb was the name missing from the team sheet as Neal Ardley was otherwise able to field a full-strength side after resting players on the final day of the season at Newport.

There were two changes for Stanley with Sean McConville and Scotty Brown coming in for Bradley Halliday and Tarique Fosu.

Wimbledon started strongly, roared on by a vociferous home support, and Lyle Taylor and Tom Elliott both went close with early efforts in front of the John Green stand.

At the other end, Accrington were afforded far too much time and space on the edge of the Dons penalty area and Billy Kee should really have done better with a simple header.

It remained goalless at the interval with little to choose between the two sides, although the hosts will have gone in disappointed not to have made their early pressure tell.

Goal: Tom Beere scores the winner
Scenes: Tom Beere scores the winner

Boss Ardley had seen enough by the hour and unleashed the Beast, Adebayo Akinfenwa, as he withdrew tall striker Tom Elliott after a frustrating night for the forward.

Ten points separated these two teams in the final League Two standings but there was nothing like that gap on display in what became a gritty affair, with two players forced to wear head bandages.

Akinfenwa's eyes lit up on 73 minutes when Taylor's knock-down dropped perfectly at his feet, only for the resulting half-volley to be defelcted narrowly over the crossbar.

That was Taylor's final act of the evening as he was replaced by Ade Azeez and looked disconsolate as he tore off his No. 33 shirt and took his place on the bench.

Kee, who was one of Stanley's most productive players in this first leg, arrowed a shot wide of Kelle Roos' far post in a warning sign to the hosts that they weren't about to shut up shop.

Beere's late introduction was the final role of the dice from Ardley as they looked to claim a slender lead ahead of the re-match in a few days' time.

Akinfenwa so nearly delivered that elusive goal as he smacked an effort off the inside of the post, however it rolled safely away from danger.

But there was still time for more drama as Beere wrote himself into the history books and Roos kept out Stanley with a couple of fine saves at the death.

Advantage Wimbledon.

AFC Wimbledon: Roos, Fuller, Robinson, Charles, Kennedy, Reeves, Bulman, Barcham, Elliott (Akinfenwa, 60), Taylor (Azeez, 75), Rigg (Beere, 84).

Subs (not used): Shea, Fitzpatrick, Sweeney, Murphy.