Accrington Stanley 2-2 AFC Wimbledon (2-3 on aggregate)

Goal-machine Lyle Taylor was the hero as he fired AFC Wimbledon to Wembley at Accrington Stanley.

The free-scoring Dons striker showed why he has been one of League Two’s most feared marksman by netting in extra-time to send his team into the play-off final.

His goal made it 2-2 on the night and sent Wimbledon through 3-2 on aggregate following their 1-0 triumph in the reverse fixture at Kingsmeadow on Saturday.

George Francomb underwent knee surgery earlier this week and will not play again this season, giving Sean Rigg another opportunity to continue in midfield.

Neal Ardley resisted the urge to make changes up front as he stuck with Taylor and Tom Elliott as his preferred partnership in attack.

Wimbledon came storming out of the blocks and Taylor looked particularly fired up on the big occasion in Lancashire.

The free-scoring striker was covering every blade of grass and forced Ross Etheridge to tip his low drive around the post in an early warning sign to the hosts.

Accrington had their first sight of goal soon after when Tom Davies stretched to reach Seamus Coneely’s delivery but could only poke it into the arms of Kelle Roos.

Josh Windass of Accrington Stanley scores the opening goal from the penalty spot
Lyle Taylor of AFC Wimbledon reacts

Wimbledon always seemed in control though and it came as a shock when Stanley opened the scoring five minutes before the break.

Rigg brought down Scott Brown after allowing the midfielder to get the wrong side of him and Josh Windass kept his cool from the spot to level the score on aggregate.

Ardley would have been satisfied with what he had seen before that point but he acted immediately at the interval by unleashing the Beast, Bayo Akinfenwa for the second half.

That change that worked wonders for the Dons in the first leg at Kingsmeadow, however Ardley wasn’t banking on the rocket that left Piero Mingoia’s boot 15 minutes later.

Roos wasn’t expecting it either as he found himself out of position and beaten at his near post from some distance by a thunderous drive from the winger.

Wimbledon didn’t let falling behind for the first time in this tie affect them though and the south west Londoners hauled themselves back on level terms. Guess who.

It was that man Akinfenwa, using all of his power and strength, whose bullet header beat Etheridge in the Accrington goal and sent the travelling fans crazy.

AFC Wimbledon fans cheer on their team
Adebayo Akinfenwa of AFC Wimbledon celebrates after scoring

They were off their feet again when Andy Barcham raced through a crowd of bodies to connect with a cross from the right, only for the keeper to get down well to keep it out.

Nerves started to kick in as the 90th minute approached and Billy Kee’s tame effort, scooped up by Roos, was a rare late chance as extra time was needed to find a winner.

Substitute Ade Azeez came close to finding it after the restart, acrobatically directing an effort goalwards, with a covering Stanley defender required to clear it off the line.

The Dons were not to be denied though and who else but Taylor, the man who had banged them in all season, smashed home after great work by Jake Reeves.

It was his 22nd goal of the season and the most important of the lot. He’ll be hoping it’s not the last now though as he has a Wembley date with Plymouth to prepare for.

Not even floodlight failure and a lengthy stoppage in play could spoil the party for the travelling Dons fans as they made the long trip home.

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

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