Wimbledon back in the Football League

blue square bet premier play-off final: Goalkeeper Seb Brown was the hero as AFC Wimbledon won a dramatic final 4-3 on penalties against Luton Town to seal promotion to the Football League for the first time in their nine-year history after both sides failed to score in normal and extra-time.

The success represents a remarkable climb up England’s football ladder for the Dons, who were only founded in 2002 as a direct result of Wimbledon FC’s relocation to Milton Keynes and subsequent transformation to MK Dons.

Just one division will separate those two sides next season, with AFC Wimbledon heading for League Two after an entertaining, albeit hard-fought, goalless encounter in front of 18,195 supporters at Eastlands.

Brown saved penalties from Alex Lawless and Jason Walker, leaving Dons captain Danny Kedwell to fire home the clinching penalty.

Dons manager Terry Brown paid tribute to the fans for their efforts in lifting his team into the Football League. He said: “It’s a phenomenal achievement to do it in nine years.

“A club could possibly do it quicker with finance – but we have had no finance, just fan power. I can’t make any decisions without going through the directors and the Trust.

“They keep driving this club, which has always punched above its weight.”

The old Wimbledon team were elected to the Football League in 1977 and 11 years later they won the FA Cup with a famous victory over Liverpool.