1945
 
Saturday, 01 September 1945
Isthmian League
 
Leytonstone
?
3 - 1
Wimbledon
Ron Head

The back line from the blues, with Fuller replacing Parsons, and the reds forward line combined to visit Leytonstone in the first Isthmian League match since 1939.

Leytonstone had, like the Dons, restarted during the previous season and put out a team devoid of pre-war players, with eight making their debut; it took them a while to get going and the visitors had the best of the early play. Meredith headed over a knock-on from Head and Rogerson tested the home keeper from a Smith free-kick after a break by Taylor. Cains was tested a couple of times as Leytonstone retaliated. Wimbledon got the ball in the net, Taylor beat three men and crossed, Head flicked it on to Rogerson, his shot hit the post and, although the rebound was turned in, offside was given. Hill in the home goal was further tested by a long range effort from Smith and a header from Head that bounced awkwardly in the six yard box before the visitors finally got the breakthrough. Meredith broke away and, when challenged, pulled the ball back for Head to score with a low shot. Before the break both Chandler and Taylor went close, but at half-time there was just one goal in it.

Wimbledon started the second half on the front foot, Head shot inches over after Rogerson's cross was only half cleared, but it was Leytonstone who took the initiative and only good defensive work from Bridge and Clark kept the home team out. Meredith shot high over when well placed after which Leytonstone re-jigged the forward line, Westwood taking over from Scholes at centre forward, and it paid off immediately, the latter putting in a cross that the former scored the equaliser from with a diving header. The Dons pressed to regain the lead, Smith went close with a long range shot and Taylor's cross-shot sailed inches over. Leytonstone wasted a good free-kick opportunity before Westwood put them in front, easily converting a cross from Lihow. Wimbledon pressed hard to draw level, Meredith mis-kicked after beating several defenders and Smith hit the foot of the post but it was not to be, in the last minute Westwood beat Cains to a cross lobbed in by Hicks and headed into the empty net for his hat-trick.