1948
Saturday, 23 October 1948
Isthmian League
 
Woking
?
4 - 2
Wimbledon
Les Dowding, Harry Stannard

Ron Head returned to the forward line in place of the unfortunately demoted Jimmy Smith, Harry Fisher returned from injury and, with Jack Wallis still unavailable, Jock Woods moved back up to the half-back line in place of Doug Munday, with debutant Bill Hindson, the Merton cricketer, the fourth player in nine games to partner Arthur Maggs at the back.

Wimbledon’s worst display of the season ensued and only the fine form of Haydock kept the score from reaching an embarrassing number against lowly Woking. Yet it was the visitors that took an early lead when Woods crossed and Charlie Smith headed the ball over the defence towards the left of goal, as Eastaff came out to claim the ball Les Dowding darted in and headed it over the keeper and into the net. But it soon became evident that the Woking forwards had too much pace and guile for the Dons’ halves. Ballarino ran through on his own to score the equaliser after twelve minutes. Head, mis-kicking, and Hindson, shooting wide from five yards after a Boxall mistake, both should have given Wimbledon back the lead, but for the most part it was the Cards who were in the opposing penalty area. When Morris beat Ken Lister to Warren’s free-kick he flicked the ball on Ballerina easily beat Haydock for his and Woking’s second. The same player took advantage of a defensive slip to complete his hat-trick before the break.

Fifteen minutes into the second half Wiles tricked three defenders and crashed the ball in for the fourth. When Harry Stannard was brought down in the area five minutes later it came as a surprise when Lister, named the Dons’ captain earlier in the week, called upon him to take the resultant spot-kick. His effort was straight at the keeper, but he followed up to score at the second attempt. Unfortunately that was the end of it and the visitors rarely looked like pulling the game around in the remaining twenty-five minutes.