AFC Wimbledon 1-1 Hampton & Richmond: A New Don Rises

Look out Blue Square Premier: Here come the Dons.

AFC Wimbledon, only forged seven years ago out of the frustrations brought on by Pete Winkelman and the move of the original club to Milton Keynes, are on their their way to the Conference National.

Thanks to the heroics of one Jon Main, the former Tonbridge Angel got off the bench and scored the equalizer against Hampton & Richmond Borough to make it a 1-1 draw at the Beveree Stadium.

The draw means that AFC Wimbledon stay three points above the Beavers for top spot in the Blue Square South with one game to go.

Regardless of what happens in AFC Wimbledon's final match at Kingsmeadow, Terry Brown's club has all but wrapped up the league.

The only ways that Hampton could win the league is to win against Maidenhead United while Wimbledon lose to St. Albans City, with Hampton notching a superior goal difference and/or more goals scored.

One may argue that such a monumental task can only be accomplished if the Magpies choose to score own goals next Saturday.

After all, their hopes of even making the playoffs are done and dusted.

But regardless, the goal by Main was a crushing blow to Hampton and manager Alan Devonshire, who will be consigned to the gut-wrenching drama of promotional playoffs, starting with Chelmsford City at the Melbourne Stadium.

Wimbledon know the cruel lottery of playoffs all too well.

Two years ago, when they were in the Isthmian League Premier Division (or the Ryman League, Premier Division), they lost to Bromley in a playoff semi-final, 1-0.

That year, Bromley would be promoted along with Hampton, and another season would pass before the Dons got another crack at them again.

In the close season, AFC Wimbledon would hire Brown, who previously was manager for current Football League Two side Aldershot Town, as their manager.

This time, the playoffs went their way. After a 3-1 victory over AFC Hornchurch, Mark De Bolla's late goal against Staines Town saw the blue and gold faithful who made the trip flood the pitch in a 2-1 playoff final victory.

AFC Wimbledon's 2008-09 season had its highs and lows.

Poor performances in the FA Trophy, Setanta Shield, London and Surrey Senior Cups were countered by their first-ever appearance in the FA Cup as their current incarnation against Wycombe Wanderers.

In the Blue Square South, the Dons began their season with a string of victories. September saw the Dons falter, with their first defeat to Chelmsford City, who were promoted as Ryman Premier champions in 2008.

The Dons had a small stretch of positive results in October, but again the streak ended November 1st against the Clarets.

A number of teams who were able to figure out Wimbledon besides Chelmsford were Welling United and Eastleigh.

The latter of the two proved to Wimbledon's bogey team due to their inability to earn even a draw against them. It will not be a surprise if they get the push they need to be promoted through playoffs.

And even controversy surrounded the Dons' 2008-09 campaign.

A match against Bromley on April 13 saw Ryan Hall's 2nd goal split the points late in what was viewed by many as an unsportsmanlike action by the Ravens.

But for the fans who flock to the matches at Kingsmeadow, they should be proud of a team that overcame great odds to be one promotion away from being reunited with the Football League.

And what's even better: the 1-1 draw against Hampton & Richmongd will have spared them playoffs, with a nice shiny silver trophy taking its place inside the Cherry Red Records Fans Stadium home dressing room, lying alongside empty champagne bottles and puddles of alcohol.

All that we ask is for the Miracle Man himself to avoid turning up at York Road next week.