AFC Wimbledon secured a dramatic penalty shootout victory over Newport County in the EFL Trophy after a last-gasp equaliser from substitute Callum Maycock. The Dons won 5-4 on spot-kicks following a 1-1 draw at Plough Lane.
Nathan Bishop saved from Matt Smith in the shootout, with all five Wimbledon takers converting to send the League One side through. The visitors had looked set for a win after Yahya Bamba's superb first-half curler, but Maycock's close-range finish in the seventh minute of added time broke Newport hearts.
Newport took the lead in the first half through a moment of individual quality. Yahya Bamba collected the ball outside the area and bent a fine finish past Nathan Bishop. The goalkeeper had earlier kept the scores level, saving a penalty from Shaquille Gwengwe. Wimbledon struggled to create clear chances for much of the match, leaving it until the dying seconds to find a response.
Deep into stoppage time, a hopeful ball into the box fell to Callum Maycock. The midfielder kept his composure to slot home from close range and send the tie to penalties. In the shootout, Nathan Bishop's save from Matt Smith proved decisive. Wimbledon's takers showed no nerves, with Armani Little, Josh Davison, Harry Pell, Omar Bugiel and Maycock himself all scoring.
AFC Wimbledon boss Johnnie Jackson admitted his side were fortunate to progress. "We didn't play well particularly, but we showed some character," Jackson told reporters. "The most positive for me are the players who came on." He praised Maycock's finish, saying the ball "fell to his feet and he took the goal really well."
For Newport, it was a bitter end for new manager Hayden Mullins, in only his eighth day in charge. "We did really well. The initial disappointment is that we didn't get anything from the game, but I stand here a proud man," Mullins said. He reserved special praise for goalscorer Bamba, calling his strike "a fantastic goal" and saying the winger "was a real threat" in the second half.
The win sees Wimbledon advance in the EFL Trophy, a competition they will hope to use to build momentum. Their immediate focus returns to League One, where they currently sit 14th. The squad has shown resilience, with several players contributing from the bench in this cup tie. Key performers like Armani Little and Josh Davison, who both scored in the shootout, will be important for the league campaign ahead.
The team's next match is a League One fixture away to Barnsley on Saturday. Fans can view the full schedule on our fixtures page. This result, while not a classic performance, provides a boost ahead of a busy period. The ability to win from a losing position is a trait manager Johnnie Jackson will want to see more often.
The victory highlighted the importance of squad depth. Substitute Callum Maycock made the decisive impact, while goalkeeper Nathan Bishop provided the key shootout save. Regular starters like captain Jake Reeves provide the engine in midfield, and striker Josh Davison leads the line with six league goals already this season. The full roster is available on our squad page.
Wimbledon's defence, marshalled by Ryan Johnson, has been generally solid, conceding 24 goals in their opening 10 league games. The team will need all areas of the pitch functioning as they face a tough run of games in October. The win over Newport sets a positive tone, but the priority remains climbing the League One table. Their next home game at Plough Lane is against Reading in two weeks' time.
