By Joe Ridge
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Relive Sportsmail's coverage of the FA Cup second round as bitter rivals MK Dons and AFC Wimbledon met for the first time. Karl Robinson's MK Dons side are flying high in third place in League One and went into the match as favourites against Neal Ardley's side, who are struggling near the foot of League Two.
FT: MK Dons 2 AFC Wimbledon 1
Milton Keynes Dons: Martin, Otsemobor, Kay, Williams, Lewington, Gleeson, Potter, Bowditch, Chadwick, Balanta (Ismail 66), Lowe (Smith 80).
Subs not used: McLoughlin, Doumbe, MacDonald, Chicksen, Sekajja.
Goal: Midson 59.
AFC Wimbledon: Sullivan, Osano, Fenlon, Antwi, Mambo, Luke Moore (Johnson 81), Gregory, Long, Ajala, Harrison (Strutton 71), Midson.
Subs not used: Jaimez-Ruiz, Balkestein, Mitchel-King, McNaughton, Djilali.
Booked: Midson, L Moore, Ajala.
Goals: Gleeson 45, Otsemobor 90.
Referee: Scott Mathieson (Cheshire)
12.00pm: Good morning everyone and welcome to Sportsmail's live coverage of one of the most eagerly anticipated matches of the season so far as MK Dons and AFC Wimbledon meet for the first time.
12.10pm: I am sure most of you are aware of the significance of this fixture but for those of you who are not, here is a brief history lesson for you... Wimbledon FC - winners of the 1988 FA Cup - were relocated to Milton Keynes in 2003, by which time AFC Wimbledon had already been formed (in 2002) in protest against the proposed move. As AFC worked their way up through the non-league pyramid, Wimbledon FC were renamed MK Dons in 2004 and have continued to ply their trade in the lowest two tiers of the Football League. AFC Wimbledon were promoted to the Football League for the first time back in May 2011 and the club are now just one division apart, but today's FA Cup tie will be the first time the two sides have met each other.
12.15pm: Back to on-field matters and the teams are in. MK Dons will start as strong favourites and they have picked a first-choice starting XI for this one, including the selection of captain and left back Dean Lewington, who came through the ranks at Wimbledon FC. For AFC, veteran former Wimbledon FC goalkeeper Neil Sullivan has been granted clearance to play.
Protest: Wimbledon fans express their dislike of MK Dons owner Pete Winkelman
12.29pm: The players are out on the pitch and the atmosphere is very, very tense. here we go...
1 min: We're under way... Both sets of fans are belting out songs.
Sportsmail's Matt Barlow at stadium:mk writes: 'They're playing Welcome to the Jungle. Its not exactly Istanbul, but there's a lively atmosphere and a few taunts knocking about. AFC fans holding "We are Wimbledon" banners. MK fans have a banner saying: "We're keeping the Dons... Just get over it" and another saying "AFC Hypocrites".'
3 mins: Dean Lewington sends the game's first shot high and wide into AFC Wimbledon supporters behind the goal, who greet the effort with ironic cheers.
6 mins: It's been all MK Dons so far, but Wimbledon are winning the battle of the fans.
7 mins: Sullivan saves at the near post from Otsemobor. the 'keeper is still going strong at the age of 42.
Die-hard: An AFC Wimbledon fan turns up with a mask
9 mins: A chartered plane has just flown over the stadium reading, 'we are Wimbledon'.
13 mins: David Martin does well to come out of his box and thwart Byron Harrison with a header after Jack Midson's throughball had sent him clear.
17 mins: MK Dons have dominated possession and look very comfortable on the ball. Wimbledon are holding firm though.
18 mins: Close! MK Dons winger Angelo Balanta bends one just wide of Sullivan's left-hand post from 20 yards out.
22 mins: Luke Chadwick is really pulling the strings here for MK Dons. The former Man United man is a top player at this level.
24 mins: The 3,000-or-so Wimbledon fans really are in fine voice. Their team just can't keep hold of the ball at the moment though, but they have defended stoically so far.
27 mins: Wimbledon have their first corner of the game... It comes to nothing though.
Standing firm: MK Dons fans display a banner for the Wimbledon supporters to read
32 mins: Route one stuff from Wimbledon so far, in keeping with their tradition. Byron Harrison is giving the MK Dons centre backs a hard time of it but the support runners haven't been arriving for him.
38 mins: The game has not been the best so far, though it was always going to be a sideshow to the battle of the fans... which is still going strong.
42 mins: Yado Mambo rises highest to clear a dangerous free-kick from Chadwick. The big centre half has been outstanding so far for the visitors.
GOAL!!! MK Dons 1 (Gleeson) AFC Wimbledon 0
What a strike! Gleeson spanks one from 30 yards that rises and swerves into the top corner leaving Sullivan with absolutely no chance.
HALF-TIME: Just as it looked as though Wimbledon would be heading into the break level, a rare moment of magic in an otherwise turgid game has given the advantage to Karl Robinson's side. The atmosphere inside the stadium:mk is absolutely rocking now with both sets of fans in full voice. Wimbledon will have to come out of their shell in the second half if they are to get at least a replay from this though as they have offered nothing going forward so far.
Screamer: Gleeson celebrates his wonderstrike
Sportsmail's Matt Barlow at stadium:mk: 'Test for the AFC spirit now. Wonderful strike from Gleeson. Out of place with the rest of the half. Plenty in the stadium:mk were queuing up for a cuppa when it flew in to the top corner.'
46 mins: We're back under way...
47 mins: Close! Lewington's dinked free-kick nearly finds the top corner as the veteran Sullivan laboriously tips the ball over the bar.
51 mins: Chance! Balanta's attempted cross deflects off Mambo and nearly beats Sullivan at the near post.
Sportsmail's Matt Barlow at stadium:mk: 'MK firmly in command at the start of the second half. Sullivan's goal under attack from Lewington, Balanta and Bowditch. Home crowd sing: "You're getting beat by a franchise" ... and the temperature has dropped alarmingly.'
57 mins: I'm afraid to see say you can really see why Wimbledon have struggled in League Two this season. They have offered very little other than hard work and graft.
GOAL!!! MK Dons 1 AFC Wimbledon 1 (Midson)
Can you believe it! And right in front of home fans... A neat little move started by Midson sees the big forward brilliantly glance home a header from Agala's cross and the travelling support go wild... and there's a pitch invasion! There's a delay in play as the stewards try to deal with it. Midson sensibly tries to calm the away fans down.
Pandemonium: Wimbledon go wild as Midson equalises
Sportsmail's Matt Barlow at stadium:mk: 'That's caused a stir. A diving header from Midson levels and AFC fans fail to control their euphoria. Some of them spill onto the pitch to celebrate with the players as the home fans boo and whistle. Midson is booked for his role in inciting the invasion as AFC fans find their voices again. Yellow and blue balloons are bouncing in the away end again and it is still very chilly here.'
70 mins: MK Dons have a goal ruled out as Zeli Ismail is rightly flagged offside as he centres for Ryan Lowe to tap in.
Sportsmail's Matt Barlow at stadium:mk: 'Interested to see the impact of MK teenager Zeli Ismail, on loan from Wolves. There's been a lot of hype about him, born in Albania and playing for England youth teams. He came on and set up a goal for Ryan Lowe to convert but the flag was up for offside.'
77 mins: As things stand then we're all set for a replay. One thing that is for sure is that the second half has been a far better spectacle than the first.
Sportsmail's Matt Barlow at stadium:mk: 'MK Dons preparing to send on the former England striker Alan Smith.'
80 mins: Ryan Lowe is the man to make way for Smith. Wimbledon are growing in confidence though with Ajala enjoy some joy down the right flank.
Pitch invasion: Wimbledon's fans celebrate Midson's strike a bit too enthusiastically
86 mins: A few rash tackles are starting to fly in now as nerves begin to take affect on the two sides - will there be a winner?
89 mins: Chance!!! Gregory intercepts a pass from Potter and is millimetres away from sending Wimbledon into third round as David Martin gets his fingertips to the low drive, pulling off a quite brilliant save.
GOAL!!! MK Dons 2 (Otsemobor) AFC Wimbledon 1
That should settle it... heartbreak for Wimbledon! Otsemobor won the corner which has cleared by Gregory, Ismail's shot from the edge of the box is miscued but Otsemobor nonchalantly redirects it over Sullivan's dive with a very clever flick.
Sportsmail's Matt Barlow at stadium:mk: 'Now the MK fans are on the pitch. Mad scramble before Otsemobor scores, sparking a frenzy, including a sprinkling of idiots on the pitch, goading the AFC players. Karl Robinson came onto the pitch to urge them back into the stands. In fairness, they did as he asked.'
FULL-TIME: That's it... A sad way for the game to end for Wimbledon fans but I think every will breathe a sigh of relief that there won't be a replay. The game itself was a ponderous affair until Stephen Gleeson's wonderstrike on the stroke off half-time forced Wimbledon to come out of their shell in the second half, which they did so impressively. Both sides can hold their heads high from the football that they have played, and thankfully only a few pitch-invaders from either team marred the game. Thanks, as ever, for reading.
AFC Wimbledon - now shut up and go home.
- Kassa , Somewhere, United Kingdom, 02/12/2012 14:30
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