Finishing sixth in the final standings of EFL League Two will see Stuart Maynard’s battling Notts County welcome Johnnie Jackson’s entertaining, fifth place AFC Wimbledon, to Meadow Lane this Saturday (10 May) night.

The occasion, the first leg of their League Two play-off semi-final, the return coming at lunchtime, seven days later, when the Magpies head to the Cherry Red Records Stadium, in SW London.

County and Wimbledon finished the season with a similar run of form, and separated in the table by just a point, after the final day, in favour of the Dons; County’s final ten would see them win three and draw two in a shaky finale, whilst the Dons won three and drew four of theirs.

Even the two previous meetings were close encounters, each winning their respective home clash, the first, back in mid-October, being a lone-goal success for County as they, at the time, were pushing for top spot; in early March though, it was a different story as victory for the Dons saw them leapfrog their visitors into fourth place.

It has been a close-run thing for most of the season, the promotion race, with as many as a dozen sides, including these two, in the mix throughout.

THE MATCHES

• NOTTS COUNTY 1 AFC WIMBLEDON O (19 OCTOBER 2024)

At the time this victory, for County, kept them in touch with then leaders, Port Vale; with both sides having chances in the first half, the second would see Matty Platt score the only goal of the game, after seeing an earlier effort held well by Dons keeper, Owen Goodman.

The games’ only goal arrived in the 67^th minute when Matthew Palmer put in a nice, deep delivery from a corner and the ball fell for Platt to swipe home, past Goodman, from close range.

Notts County – Alex Bass, Lewis Macari (Rod McDonald, 89), Matty Platt, Jacob Bedeau, George Abbott, Daniel Crowley, Matthew Palmer, Scott Robertson (Sam Austin, 46), Kellan Gordon (Nick Tsaroulla, 46), Alassana Jatta, David McGoldrick

AFC Wimbledon – Owen Goodman, Riley Harbottle (Ryan Johnson, 61), James Ball, Isaac Ogundere, Josh Neufville (Huseyin Biler, 75), Callum Maycock (James Furlong, 82), Alistair Smith, Myles Hippolyte, James Tilley, Matty Stevens (Josh Kelly, 75), Omar Bugiel (Joe Pigott, 75)

• AFC WIMBLEDON 2 NOTTS COUNTY O (8 MARCH 2025)

Five months later, and at the business end of the season, both sides were still challenging at the top end of the table, and in with a shot of the automatic promotion places; come the end of this clash there was just ten points splitting second and eighth in the table – it was that tight an affair up there.

For County though, it was a game that would see their hosts leapfrog them into fourth spot, courtesy of a two-goal burst midway through the first half; Joe Lewis opened the scoring for the Dons on 21 minutes, he heading home a pass from Jame Tilley, then, less than fifteen minutes later, that lead was doubled.

Stags shot-stopper had to be at his best all game, and pulled off a great save from Marcus Browne, before Alistair Smith struck, firing a thunderous, right-footed effort, from outside the box, into Bass’ top right-hand corner.

Both sides created plenty chances, including Alassana Jatta with a blistering effort ten minutes from time, but it would be the hosting Dons who claimed three, valuable points.

AFC Wimbledon – Owen Goodman, Isaac Ogundere, Joe Lewis, Sam Hutchinson, Josh Neufville, Alistair Smith, Jake Reeves, Marcus Browne (Callum Maycock, 76), James Tilley, Matty Stevens (Josh Kelly, 83), Omar Bugiel (Joe Pigott, 89)

Notts County – Alex Bass, Zak Johnson (Rod McDonald, 46), Matty Platt, Jacob Bedeau, Jack Hinchy (Lewis Macari, 46), Nick Tsaroulla (Kellan Gordon, 91), George Abbott, Matthew Palmer Conor Grant (Curtis Edwards, 91), Alassana Jatta, Charlie Whitaker (Will Jarvis, 67)

THE CLUBS

NOTTS COUNTY Stuart Maynard only took over at Meadow Lane in January 2024, leading the Magpies for 70+ games in that time; this season (2024/25) has seen him lead Notts to a sixth-place finish, although they have gone off the boil in the run-in, registering just four wins and three draws in their final fourteen outings.

Throughout the campaign seven players have made 40+ appearances for the club, Matty Platt (47), Jacob Bedeau (46) and Matthew Palmer (43) topping that pile, whilst Alassana Jatta and club legend, David McGoldrick, topped the scoring charts with 21 and 17 goals respectively.

Twice throughout a season have the Magpies put together a six-match unbeaten run, 10/8-14/9 when they won four and drew two, and 4/1-8/2 as they enjoyed five wins and a draw – a dip in form during the latter stages though have proved costly.

Both goalkeeper Alex Bass (2023/24 season) and defender Rod McDonald (2018-2020) have had spells at Wimbledon, the former being on-loan last season.

AFC WIMBLEDON Johnnie Jackson, as a player was part of County’s League Two title-winning squad some fifteen years ago, scoring twice in twenty-four games; he took over as Dons manager back in May 2022 and has been at the helm for close to 170 games.

It’s been a strong season for a number of Dons players, four of which have made more than fifty appearances as they reached the Third Round of the EFL League Cup, losing out to eventual winners, Newcastle United.

Striker and top-scorer, Stevens, has made 53 appearances (21 goals, the only Dons player to reach double figures), with Josh Neufville (52), along with Owen Goodman and Alistair Smith (50 apiece); the season would also see the Dons put together an impressive, twelve-match unbeaten run, over Christmas and New Year, 26/12-22/2 where they won six and drew six of those dozen outings.

Although none of the current Dons squad have played for County, two players have recent experience of playing in Nottinghamshire overall, John-Joe O’Toole (2021-24) and Riley Harbottle (2022/23) both having played for Mansfield Town, the latter having started his career in the ranks at County cross-river rivals, Nottingham Forest.

PREDICTIONS

It’s an interesting one here, especially when looking at the two sides having similar form throughout the season, and the close encounters the two clubs have played out. With both sides, the game will no doubt hinge on their respective scorers and playmakers.

For County, that’s dependent on the presence of McGoldrick and Jatta, whilst the Dons have been reliant on Stevens; however, the key could lie in goal, with the Dons’ Owen Goodman often in scintillating form and County’s ever-reliable Bass – what happens there could be pivotal, but it’ll be tight that’s for sure.

Notts County and AFC Wimbledon clash in the EFL League Two play-off semi-finals on 10 May (Meadow Lane, 20:00), and 17 May (Cherry Red Records Stadium, 12:30).

*Article provided by Peter Mann (Senior Correspondent).

*Main image @Official_NCFC Magpies & Dons in action earlier this season.