Port Vale defeated AFC Wimbledon, securing their spot in League One for the upcoming campaign with two goals in quick succession.
As Port Vale gained momentum and scored twice in four minutes, the Dons’ season-ending home encounter ended in a loss, dropping the men in blue and yellow to fifth position ahead of the 3pm games.
After the Dons’ 1-0 loss at Gillingham on Monday, Johnnie Jackson made two substitutions, replacing Osman Foyo and Aron Sasu with the seasoned Sam Hutchinson and Omar Bugiel.
Referee Declan Bourne said that the strange problem with the corner flag to the right of Owen Goodman’s goal not being tall enough caused the game to end after just four minutes of play.
With neither team scoring a shot in the first twenty-four minutes and both teams sharing possession of the ball equally, the game lost its initial excitement following the interval.
That is, until Lorent Tolaj shot high over the Wimbledon goal after latching onto a pass from Ryan Croasdale.
The game appeared to be sparked by this goal, which prompted Wimbledon to rush forward and attempt several crosses into the visitors’ penalty area, but to no avail.
Just before halftime, Hutchinson had the best chance to give the home team the lead when he fired a shot from the outskirts of the Vale area, prompting a good save from Ben Amos.
Soon after the restart, though, Port Vale put the ball in the net, but the linesman’s flag stopped it. It took a while for the travelling supporters and players, including would-have-been goal scorer Jayden Stockley, to discover the goal had been disallowed in the chaos of the away end.
Vale scored twice in quick succession as he continued to put pressure on the home team. Stockley looked a header past the outstretched Owen Goodman around ten minutes after his goal was chalked out, and this time it stood.
Jaheim Hedley was played through minutes later, giving the Dons no time to comprehend what had just transpired. He took a touch inside and tucked the ball past Goodman to give the Valiants a 2-0 lead.
After the second goal, Johnnie Jackson was sent off because he was furious that play had been permitted to go on when Riley Harbottle was hurt and holding his head.
To replace Bugiel, Hutchinson, and Harbottle, Stevens, and Maycock, respectively, the Dons added Marcus Browne, Myles Hippolyte, Isaac Ogundere, Aron Sasu, and Joe Pigott.
However, none were able to have a significant enough effect, and the game ended with Vale winning three points and becoming promoted.
When the Dons visit Grimsby next Saturday in an attempt to solidify their play-off spots, there is everything on the line.
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