Haydock and Richfield were both selected to play for Surrey against Sussex and Fuller for the Isthmian League against the Spartan League, so there were some new faces in the Wimbledon team to take on the current league leaders. Whitman played his only senior game in goal and Parrott, from Sutton United, made his debut at the back alongside pre-war favourite Len Cannon, with Clark and Fennell both moving a line forward. It was then found that Edelston was suffering from tonsillitis and Laker, selected outside-left, failed to turn up, their places taken by Neil and Meredith. Oxford were similarly depleted, with reserves in all the back six positions except left-back.

City took an early lead, twelve minutes on the clock when Hagar took advantage of a mix up in the home defence, but thereafter the Dons had a prolonged spell of pressure and the equaliser was not long coming, Neil heading in Gill's centre. The same player then had a goal disallowed for offside, then a shot from Fennell was only blocked by the keeper and Meredith followed in to head the ball into the net. Neil, who had been off the field for some time with a cut to his face, forced Wyatt to push the ball over for a corner. Five minutes before the interval Fuce broke through the defence and pulled back to Gill, whose shot was deflected in off Smith.

Another defensive blunder allowed Oxford to reduce the margin soon after the break, Wanless scoring with a cross shot. The home side's only effort of note in this spell was a low shot from Head that barely tested the visiting keeper. In the last twenty minutes the City wingers took the game by the scruff of its neck and the Dons were on the back foot, but defending resolutely. However, with five minutes left, a scrum in the home area resulted in Jones hitting the crossbar and Wanless put in the rebound. Wimbledon still had a chance to steal an improbable win when Neil put Meredith through, but the striker delayed his shot and the defence cleared up.