AFC Wimbledon were beaten by a stoppage-time sucker punch at Home Park, losing 2-1 to Plymouth Argyle after taking an early lead. Jayden Stockley gave the Dons a 16th-minute advantage, but a Caleb Watts equaliser and a 94th-minute Xavier Amaechi winner saw the Pilgrims extend their lead at the top of League One.
Stockley, the club's top scorer with four goals this season, headed in from a Callum Maycock cross to stun the early kick-off crowd. The lead lasted less than ten minutes. Josef Bursik saved a Tyreeq Bakinson effort, but the rebound fell to Watts who levelled for the hosts. The game then settled into a tense battle, with both sides creating chances. Alistair Smith was denied in a one-on-one for Wimbledon, while Freddie Simmonds saw a late effort crash off the crossbar.
Late drama at Home Park
The decisive moment arrived deep into added time. A clearance from substitute Alex Hartridge deflected into the path of Amaechi, who fired home to break Wimbledon hearts. "It was a cruel way to lose it," was the assessment from the Wimbledon camp after the final whistle. The goal came in the fifth minute of stoppage time, leaving no chance for a response. Matty Sorinola was booked in the frantic final moments as the Dons' frustration showed.
Wimbledon had made changes to chase the game, introducing Marcus Browne and Zack Nelson in the 76th minute. Ryan Johnson produced a vital block on the line to deny Bradley Ibrahim, but the defence could not hold out. The defeat leaves AFC Wimbledon 11th in the table with 12 points from nine games, now seven points behind the leaders they just faced.
Managerial changes were a factor, with Plymouth's Caleb Watts starting due to an injury to Bim Pepple. The home side made a double change on 75 minutes, which ultimately proved decisive. For Wimbledon, the focus shifts quickly to another tough away trip. They travel to face Sheffield Wednesday, who are seventh, in their next league fixture on 17 October. Check the full schedule on our fixtures page. Stockley's early strike was his fourth of the campaign, a positive note on a disappointing afternoon that saw a crowd of 15,277, including 481 travelling Dons supporters.
Plymouth goalkeeper Murphy Cooper has highlighted a key moment in their 2-1 win. Cooper told the club his first-half reaction stop from Jayden Stockley was "probably the best save I have made in an Argyle shirt." He credited goalkeeping coach Mike Stowell for preparing him for that exact scenario. The Dons, 11th in League One with 12 points, were denied a potential 2-1 lead by that intervention. The save proved key before the late winner.
