Yahoo Finance Fans Praised As AFC Wimbledon Win Promotion
AFC Wimbledon manager Neal Ardley paid tribute to the fans after his side won the League Two play-off final with a 2-0 Wembley victory over Plymouth.
Lyle Taylor broke the deadlock on 78 minutes before a stoppage-time penalty from substitute Adebayo Akinfenwa sealed promotion to League One for a club which was only formed by supporters in 2002.
AFC fans were furious after the football authorities allowed Wimbledon to relocate to Milton Keynes, a club which is now called MK Dons.
Having started life as AFC Wimbledon in the ninth tier Combined Counties League 14 years ago, they will now be taking on MK Dons next year as equals.
And that achievement had an emotional Ardley beaming with pride on the Wembley pitch in the immediate aftermath of their triumph.
He told Sky Sports: "It's wonderful. The occasion for our fans was good enough in the first place from where we've come from.
"But the boys went out and I had a feeling today we had too much experience, so much know-how and I had a feeling that these boys were going to deliver. In that second half I think there was only one team going to win that. We were outstanding.
"Of course [I'm proud]. It's emotional. To win a game at Wembley and get promotion is wonderful but they (the fans) deserve it.
"They had their club taken away from them 14 years ago - now look at them."
The introduction of Akinfenwa from the bench ultimately proved the decisive moment in a tense encounter, as the Dons broke the deadlock moments later through Lyle Taylor.
"He needs a cuddle, he needs a bit of love but he gets it from us," said Ardley about the much-travelled Taylor.
Only a superb late stop by Luke McCormick prevented Akinfenwa from heading home a second Dons goal.
However, the Pilgrims stopper could do nothing to keep out Akinfenwa's penalty deep into stoppage time following a foul by Jordan Forster on Adebayo Azeez.
"And for the Beast [Akinfenwa] to get the winner for the second goal is amazing," added the Dons boss.
Despite the late drama, Ardley felt his side were always in control and ultimately got exactly what they deserved.
He explained: "To be honest with you I don't think they looked like scoring.
"You always have the nerves that they might but our defence were immense, our goalie was immense and the rest of the team, we always carried a threat.
"The longer the game went on, the more likely we looked like we were going to win."
Plymouth finished two places and six points ahead of the Dons but seemed to be overawed by the occasion in front of a 30,000-strong Green Army.
"We didn't perform well enough," admitted manager Derek Adams. "Credit to Wimbledon, but we are disappointed not to have won.
"It wasn't an exciting game and we probably played into Wimbledon's hands a bit, we didn't trouble their goalkeeper enough.
"It's a huge disappointment to come here and not show people what we can do. We are disappointed but we've come a long way with a threadbare squad and it's testament to the players to have even got here today."
