Ardley feared postponement as lights fused
THE LIGHTS quite literally went out on Accrington’s promotion campaign after Lyle Taylor’s extratime finish ensured Wimbledon of a place at Wembley.
A floodlight failure temporarily stopped the game with seven minutes left of extra-time to play.
And Dons boss Neal Ardley admitted he initially feared the game would be called off completely.
By then, Wimbledon had dragged the score back to 3-2 on aggregate after Lyle Taylor had struck in the 104th minute, to complete a turnaround that at one stage had looked beyond them.
Having lost the first leg 1-0 at Kingsmeadow, Accrington should have been in front with ten minutes gone as defender Tom Davies toepoked a golden chance at Kelle Roos from six yards out.
But, after Sean Rigg impeded Scott Brown in the box, Rangers-bound Josh Windass slotted home from the spot to put the two sides on an even keel heading into half-time.
And the travelling support could hardly believe it when, on the hour, Piero Mingoia caught Roos out of position from the 30 yards.
An audacious, swooping strike from the midfielder ended up in the Dons’ net.
That was hardly the last of the drama as, eight minutes later, Adebayo Akinfenwa used all off his bulk to fend off unfortunate marker Matty Pearson and head home.
The Dons’ tails were up now and, though there was no further score within the 90 minutes, sub Ade Adeez’s overhead kick was cleared off the line by Davies in the first half of extra time. Wimbledon’s top scorer, Taylor, sealed the deal when he was quickest to react to the rebound and scored after Jake Reeves’ mazy dribble and shot had been beaten
away.