Myles Hippolyte’s rebound winner fired AFC Wimbledon to promotion into 2025-26 League One, with a 1-0 win over Walsall in the 2025 League Two Play-Off Final.
Hippolyte netted a rebound-winner in the second minute of first-half injury-time from Marcus Browne’s blocked shot, which secured a return to League One for AFC Wimbledon after they had been relegated from the third tier at the end of the 2021-22 season.
The victory also meant that Johnnie Jackson’s Dons join Doncaster Rovers, Port Vale and Bradford City as the four clubs promoted to next season’s League One.
Speaking post-match to Sky Sports, a “delighted” Hippolyte praised his teammates for their performance throughout the season.
“I’m delighted. It’s been a tough season. We’re just a great team. We’re a hard team to beat. We run, fight, everything for each other.
“Everyone knows their jobs. I’m delighted to be here, delighted to have won. It’s massive.”
Clubs across all three divisions within the EFL will learn their 2025-26 fixture list on Thursday 26 June at 12pm BST, with League One and League Two seasons commencing on the weekend of 1-3 August.
(Image credit: Rex Features)This play-off final fittingly saw League Two’s best attacking and defensive teams collide as Walsall’s strong 79-goal attack came up against AFC Wimbledon’s resilient defence – which conceded just 35 goals – and was evident in a cagey opening 21 minutes.
Hippolyte nearly broke the deadlock for the Dons with a 22nd-minute shot wide from Alistair Smith’s pass, before Smith then unleashed a shot over the bar just three minutes later as AFC Wimbledon began to turn up the pressure.
Walsall luckily stayed level in the 31st minute through Tommy Simkin’s block of Browne’s powerful low shot which appeared destined for the bottom-right corner as Browne looked to add another Play-Off title to his honours – having won with Oxford United in 2024 League One Play-Offs.
AFC Wimbledon continued to pile on the pressure against a resilient Walsall defence until corner clearances in the second minute of first-half injury-time fell for Browne, whose shot was blocked but Hippolyte smashed the rebound into the bottom-right corner to put the Dons ahead at half-time.
Mat Sadler however seemed to had reinvigorated Walsall at half-time after mustering no shots in the first half as the Saddlers stepped up their intensity on the restart, only for Riley Harbottle to deny Jamille Matt with a 50th-minute clearance on the line of the latter’s tame shot.
AFC Wimbledon almost put promotion within sight seven minutes later as Jake Reeves found Matty Stevens, who nodded the ball across for Browne, but the ex Middlesbrough midfielder saw his shot blocked by Nathan Asiimwe.
Owen Goodman protected the Dons’ lead with a crucial 64th-minute save to deny Walsall substitute, Levi Amantchi after the January signing dinked forward Taylor Allen’s long ball, which the Crystal Palace loanee safely gathered.
With promotion at stake approaching the last 21 minutes, the game began to become more see-saw-like as Simkin punched away a 10-yard strike from Josh Neufville.
Walsall eventually began to find their front-footed stride in the closing minutes but AFC Wimbledon clung on to preserve their 100% Play-Off Final record across the football pyramid.
Teams
Walsall: Tommy Simkin, David Okagbue, Harry Williams (McEntee 34′), Taylor Allen, Nathan Asiimwe (Barrett 74′), Alfie Chang (Lakin 74′), Ryan Stirk, Liam Gordon, Jamie Jellis (Adomah 62′), George Hall, Jamille Matt (Amantchi 63′)
Substitutes: Albert Adomah, Levi Amantchi, Connor Barrett, Brandon Comley, Sam Hornby, Charlie Lakin, Oisin McEntee
AFC Wimbledon: Owen Goodman, Riley Harbottle (Ogundere 69′), Joe Lewis, Ryan Johnson, James Tilley, Alistair Smith, Jake Reeves, Myles Hippolyte (Maycock 90′), Josh Neufville, Marcus Browne (Sasu 90′), Matty Stevens (Kelly 77′)
Substitutes: James Ball, Isaac Ogundere, Josh Kelly, Callum Maycock, Joe Pigott, Aron Sasu, Lewis Ward
Referee – Will Finnie
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