Back in the Football League: AFC Wimbledon defeat Luton Town after penalty shoot-out!

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AFC Wimbledon will play in League Two next season after beating Luton Town 4-3 on penalties after the match ended 0-0 after extra-time.

Dons keeper Seb Brown was the hero in the shoot-out after saving spot-kicks from Alex Lawless and Jason Walker, with Wombles captain Danny Kedwell scoring the all-important winner with an unstoppable drive past Luton goalkeeper Mark Tyler.

The Hatters will now spend a third season in the Blue Square Bet Premier while Terry Brown's side, who started life in the Combined Counties League in 2002, are just one more promotion away from facing MK Dons after their fifth promotion in eight years.

It was third time unlucky for Luton boss Gary Brabin though, who previously failed to earn promotion with Southport from the Blue Square Bet North and with Cambridge against Torquay in a final at Wembley, while Lawless was on the losing side for a second time in two seasons as York City lost 3-1 to Oxford United in the 2010 Blue Square Premier play-off final.

Both sides started well at Manchester City's Eastlands Stadium with the Dons coming close to opening the scoring early on.

Kedwell had the ball in the back of the net after Kaid Mohamed's shot from the left was only parried by Tyler but the effort was ruled out for offside.

Brown then did well to deny Jakes Howells after his shot took a deflection off Jason Walker before expertly tipping away a Claude Gnakpa drive from the left-hand side.

Gnakpa was then guilty of missing a guilt-edged chance as he headed over Robbie Willmott's free-kick.

The intensity of the first half was carried through to the second period although with fewer clear-cut chances for either side.

However, with all to play for as the match wore on, both sides stepped up a gear in search of that elusive winner.

Tyler watched Dons substitute James Mulley's curling effort all the way before tipping the dipping shot behind for a corner as Ismail Yakubu volleyed a shot wide.

Luton fans thought their side had won a penalty when Walker was upended by Brown in the box but referee James Adcock waved play on.

Matthew Barnes-Homer and Howells both came close in the dying minutes as Walker headed against the inside of the post in the last minute of the clash.

Neither keeper had a worthy save to make in extra time with only Alex Lawless smashing a shot wide of Brown's goal.

James Mulley should have found the target in the second minute of the second period of extra time after being set up by Rashid Yussuff, but his shot only found the arms of Tyler.

Walker headed wide at the other end before Mohamed could only stroke Luke Moore's pull back against a post as Yakubu headed Sam Hatton's cross wide in what turned out to be the last throw of the dice before the lottery of penalties.

Brown then gave his side hope as he dived to his right to save the first kick from Lawless.

Sam Hatton stepped up next and made no mistake as he gave the Dons a 1-0 lead.

George Pilkington levelled the score with his kick before Luke Moore then put the Dons back into the lead.

Adam Newton netted his penalty but Tyler then proved his worth with a save from Mohamed before Brown denied Walker to keep the score tied at 2-2. Next up was Yukubu, who found the back of the net before Howells buried his kick.

But AFC Wimbledon secured their place in the Football League as Kedwell beat Tyler to send the Dons fans, staff and players into ecstasy.

AFC Wimbledon bookings: Johnson, Luke Moore, Minshull

Luton bookings: Keane, Lawless

Att: 18195

Ref: James Adcock

Terry Brown hugs Seb Brown

A beaming AFC Wimbledon manager Terry Brown has thanked the club's fans after their 4-3 penalty win over Luton in the Blue Square Bet Premier play-off final saw them promoted to the Football League.

Brown said after the match: "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."

Brown admitted his relief at securing promotion after the match ended 0-0 at the end of extra time.

He added: "I just feel relieved, but at the same time tinged with sorrow for Gary [Brabin, Luton boss] because nobody deserved to lose like that, it stinks."

But Brown felt that luck was on his side after Luton failed to take their chances: "It was a game between two good sides who gave their all, but there had to be a winner and I am the lucky manager. When, in the 89th minute, their lad (Jason Walker) got up, headed against the inside of the post and it came out, I thought it was going to be my day. We had the luck, but we had to work hard for that luck."

The winning manager also revealed that he will keep his squad intact for next season: "The nucleus of my squad is there for next season, and you can't buy the experience they have had in an atmosphere like that. Hopefully we can do pretty well next season and hold our own, as other teams who have gone up before us have done."

Luton manager Brabin was naturally devastated to have ended up on the losing side - again. Brabin tasted defeat in the 2009 final with Cambridge United.

He said: "It's a horrible feeling. I can't put how I'm feeling into words. We haven't achieved our goal, which was promotion. There were a few tears in the dressing room because we felt it was going to be our day. There was a lot of belief leading up to the game and now for the next 24 hours we have to absorb the disappointment and then get back to work. I really thought it was going to be the year for Luton to turn it around and start moving in a positive direction again. I am gutted for myself, but more so for the players, the people behind the scenes and the supporters."

Luton have placed on record that they want Brabin to stay on as manager to give it another go.

Shrimpers v Dons (sadly we have to include the Franchise from 2002!):
www.sufcdb.co.uk/index.php?option=com_resultsbyteam&Itemid=85&oppt=326&fat=0

Even the Guardian write up a report:
www.guardian.co.uk/football/2011/may/21/afc-wimbledon-luton-town-play-off-final

Wimbledon are back, a remarkable rise!
http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/UK-News/AFC-Wimbledon-Win-Promotion-To-Football-League-Nine-Years-After-They-Were-Formed/Article/201105315996852?lpos=UK_News_First_UK_News_Article_Teaser_Region_3&lid=ARTICLE_15

Blue Square Premier Top 2010/11 - On points they certainly deserved it!