AFC Wimbledon 2–0 Lincoln City
Lincoln lost their heads and Wimbledon won the points
9 August 2025
It had been 1,341 days since AFC Wimbledon last won a League One game. For context, that was three DTB elections, two ‘majority rules’ votes, and one rebellion SGM ago.
Lincoln’s budget might not be huge, but it’s still comfortably bigger than ours. They arrived in our corner of South West London on a high after starting the season with three points against Reading. We started with a respectable but winless performance at Luton. Pre-match expectations? Keep it tight, hope for a goal, and pray no one does anything daft.
By full-time, they’d had one man sent off, two goals put past them, and all their optimism wrapped up and shipped back to Sincil Bank in bubble wrap.
The Team:
The Line-Up
Jake Reeves©
Myles Hippolyte
Ryan Johnson
Marcus Browne
Steve Seddon
Matty Stevens
Ali Smith
Joe Lewis
Nathan Bishop (GK)
Isaac Ogundere
Nathan Asiimwe
Also Involved:
Danilo Orsi
Callum Maycock
Riley Harbottle
Antwoine Hackford
Aron Sasu
Notable absences and welcome returns:
No Bugiel - last seen walking towards the car park. Delano McCoy-Splatt still missing. Presumably kidnapped by a wicked witch and being baked in a pie. Speaking of which, off the pitch, MyPie have been replaced in the food park after contract talks collapsed. In true Wimbledon style, negotiations ended with them being replaced by a (baked not fried - what’s the point) chicken shop. It’s the same as with players, we adore you when you’re here, forget you when you’re gone, and occasionally boo when you come back.
On the plus side the return of Haydon the Womble soft toys (now as hand puppets) at least gives the club shop a proven fan favourite. Also ensures someone in the building will follow Mick Buckley’s instructions when his dog is ignoring him. Available here.
The Match
Early drama: Lincoln’s Adam Jackson decided to plant his studs squarely into Matty Stevens’ chest. Referee Matthew Russell reached for the red card like he’d been waiting all summer to use it.
With Lincoln down to ten, the game opened up. Hippolyte nearly scored directly from a corner (twice). The breakthrough came on 41 minutes when Stevens’ cross was handled by Sonny Bradley. Stevens stepped up, sent the keeper the wrong way, and opened his League One account.
Wimbledon pushed for the second. Stevens had another chance, but Lincoln briefly threatened when they broke three-on-one, only for Joe Lewis to produce an astonishing recovery run to snuff it out. The kind of defending we love to see and feels as good as a goal.
On 77 minutes, Ryan Johnson’s knock-down from a corner fell to Asiimwe, who turned in the box and lashed a shot through a crowd to seal the points.
What the fans are saying:
Some Lincoln fans claimed the red card was “soft”. For reference, the contact made left a footprint and scalped off half of Steven’s left nipple. We heard the remnants will be auctioned off for the We are Wimbledon Fund.
One podcast debated whether two-nil against ten men “really counts”.
One fan heard shouting “let Tilley take it” before the corner leading to our second goal. If anyone sees him, tell him to subscribe to WombleWorld so he can stop living in the past.
Womble of the Week: Nathan Asiimwe
The Nat in the Hat had us thinking Josh Who’sville. An excellent wing back replacement. He was the Whizz on the Wing with a Zing an electric performance down the right. Scored the second, and still had energy to blaze over in stoppage time. The kind of display that makes you hope he doesn’t have a recall clause in Jan. WW’s sources will ask Craig Cope for inside scoop 👀
Closing Thoughts
First League One win in 1,341 days. Let’s make it a habit, not a history lesson. Gillingham in the cup on Tuesday and if there’s one thing this club likes more than winning, it’s the prize money from a cup run.
WombleWorld
Robin Bedford invented a sentient time-travelling home shirt after washing it at 88c. Unfortunately it’s a bit bitter about the beer vote and only takes you back to the Glyn Hodges era.