1948
Saturday, 23 April 1949
Isthmian League
Plough Lane
 
Wimbledon
Jimmy Smith, Jack Wallis (2), Jock Woods
4 - 1
Tufnell Park
?

Jim Woods replaced Billy Laws on the wing for the final half a dozen games, the first of which was the visit of whipping boys Tufnell Park to Plough Lane.

Wimbledon started nervously and the visitors took the initiative, switching the ball from wing to wing to disorientate the defenders, and after ten minutes this enabled Weston to get free on the left and Crane met his centre with a low drive that beat Jim Haydock to put them one up. Harry Stannard, Jim Smith and Vic Bird all had shots charged down and Jack Wallis had one headed off the line as the home side looked to redress the balance. Stannard headed Freddie Gauntlett’s cross against the bar and it bounced down on the line, the goalkeeper quickly clearing. The referee initially awarded a goal, but after consultation with his flagging linesmen he gave a goal kick instead. It made little difference as in the next attack Jim Woods headed the equaliser with a fine header from Smith’s centre.

Two goals soon after the break were enough to kill off the visitor’s challenge, Jack Wallis getting both â€" the second and individual effort running from almost the half-way line. Tufnell Park re-arranged their defensive lines, but to no avail, as Stannard wandered to good purpose, at one point out on the left wing where he tricked several opponents before lobbing the ball in for Smith to get the Dons fourth. Vic Bird, who had spent some time on the sidelines receiving attention returned for the final ten minutes, which Wimbledon spent peppering the visitors’ goal, Gibbs lone keeping the scores from increasing.