Ryan Johnson’s Own Goal Gives Luton Late Victory Against Afc Wimbledon

A hopeless precocious ain extremity by ­Wimbledon’s Ryan Johnson whitethorn awesome a alteration of luck for Luton astatine past aft back-to-back relegations.

After struggling to break their resilient first visitors of nan season, Nahki Wells’ hopeful shot guardant to Cauley Woodrow was met alternatively by nan caput of nan Dons’ stopper and looped agonisingly complete goalkeeper Nathan Bishop, disconnected nan underside of nan crossbar, and complete nan line. It whitethorn beryllium nan commencement of a marque caller season, but shot remains arsenic fickle arsenic ever.

It is 14 years since these sides met successful nan Conference playoff final, and nan intervening play has been a rollercoaster for some teams. On nan opening time of nan caller play they were coming astatine each different from other directions.

AFC Wimbledon are nan mediocre cousins of League One aft a astonishment promotion past season; Luton are nan favourites to spell backmost up to much refined surroundings aft their disastrous relegation past season.

As if to flaunt their greater comparative wealth, Luton spent nan time engaging successful immoderate unit therapy. Complete nan signing of Portsmouth’s Cohen Bramall successful nan morning, spot of lunch, past threat up Swansea’s Jerry Yates successful nan afternoon.

Wimbledon are much utilized to rooting astir successful nan bargain basements and contempt their scant resources were capable to unveil 4 caller faces for nan measurement up successful quality. Forget designer labels, 1 point will ever stay a changeless for nan Dons: their keen clasp of an underdog tag.

“It is an opportunity for america to opportunity present we are, don’t underestimate us,” head Johnnie Jackson said up of kick-off. Sure enough, they started pinch energy, passion, and little Wimbledon-like, immoderate neat passing. Josh Kelly astir caused an embarrassing mix-up successful nan bosom of nan Luton defence wrong 10 minutes and Luton were soon alert their caller Premier League position was going to gain them fewer favours astatine this level.

Nahki Wells (centre) celebrates pinch Shandon Baptiste (right) and Cauley Woodrow afer his hopeful agelong shot was headed location by Wimbledon’s Ryan Johnson. Photograph: Adam Davy/PA

Not that immoderate broadside operating retired of Kenilworth Road would person immoderate illusions of grandeur. Ground has been surgery crossed nan municipality connected a agelong overdue caller home, but for now nan homely roar from an enthusiastic crowd sparked Luton into life.

New signing George Saville began creating threat from group pieces but it whitethorn request much training sessions to person that into extremity product. Nigel Lonwijk, connected indebtedness from Wolves, did look an elegant and much contiguous threat connected nan near wing, but Wimbledon’s defending was stout and location were fewer clearcut chances astatine either extremity successful a frankly untidy and – unsurprisingly fixed nan brevity of nan adjacent play – under-rehearsed first half.

Luton’s greater value yet began to asseverate itself successful nan 2nd play but they still lacked cohesion. Reuell Walters’ debased 30-yard thrust would person fixed nan crippled a stunning opener it sick deserved but alternatively produced nan first existent prevention of nan lucifer from Wimbledon debutant Bishop.

Saville was replaced by Lamine Fanne and Lonwijk by Zack Nelson arsenic Luton looked to person their superiority into 3 points. Nathan Asiimwe’s hopeless assemblage artifact from Fanne 11 minutes from clip was a judge motion Wimbledon were not going to conscionable rotation over. If only they had not scored Luton’s extremity for them instead.

It was desperately unlucky for Johnson, but Wimbledon will bounce back, and this was an juncture erstwhile misfortune very overmuch had to beryllium kept successful perspective. Earlier successful nan day, erstwhile Luton skipper Tom Lockyer revealed he is little than a period distant from being fixed nan all-clear by doctors to resume his career.

The skipper who led nan nine to nan Premier League has not played since suffering a cardiac apprehension during Luton’s game against Bournemouth astatine nan Vitality Stadium successful December 2023, having snapped an ankle ligament during his agelong rehabilitation.

“I’ve had a really bully fewer weeks,” Lockyer said. “Hopefully now I’m 4 weeks distant from getting signed disconnected and told I’m allowed to play shot again.”