Notts beaten at Wimbledon.
Haydn Hollis' goal wasn't enough for Notts County as two late goals gave AFC Wimbledon a 2-1 win at the Cherry Red Records Stadium.The defender had given the Magpies the lead with a powerful header from Graham Burke's free-kick, but Dannie Bulman and Adebayo Akinfenwa struck in the last five minutes to leave Notts empty-handed.
Ricardo Moniz named an unchanged side from last weekend's 3-2 win over Luton Town, meaning match-winner Liam Noble had to be content with a place on the substitute's bench.
The hosts had the first chance of the game with Adebayo Akinfenwa’s header from a right-wing cross was caught by Roy Carroll after three minutes.
At the other end, Genaro Snijders attempted to replicate his spectacular goal from the defeat at Morecambe but the winger could only volley past the post from 25 yards.
Stanley Aborah sliced wide following good work by Snijders and Adam Campbell saw a shot deflect into the arms of home goalkeeper James Shea after a fantastic cross-field pass by Jon Stead.
George Francomb had two opportunities to open the scoring, first curling a free-kick over the bar from 20 yards before slashing wildly off-target after breaking into the penalty area from a short corner.
Notts had been on top and grabbed the first goal just after the quarter of an hour mark as Graham Burke floated a free-kick forward which was met by a powerful Hollis header that looped over Shea and into the top corner.
Burke’s scooped pass over the top of the defence gave Campbell a sight of goal, only for the former Newcastle attacker to drill across the face of goal and wide with Stead inches away from connecting for a goal at the back post.
Wimbledon had been on the back foot for most of the half, but could have been level were it not for a top-class save by Carroll, who did superbly to throw out a glove and tip Akinfenwa’s powerful header over the bar when the striker met Francomb’s corner seven yards out.
In stoppage time at the end of the first half, Francomb whipped in a free-kick which was flicked on by Paul Robinson and tipped around the post by Carroll as Notts held a slender advantage going into the break.
A flowing Notts move ended with Campbell standing up a cross from the left wing which found McLeod steaming into the penalty area, but the striker headed over the top from 10 yards.
Akinfenwa headed over from a corner as the Dons began to turn the screw and put County under increasing pressure.
Substitute Liam Noble tested Shea with a free-kick from 35 yards that the keeper did well to smother at his near post.
Home substitute Adebayo Azeez turned and shot towards goal, a deflection off Hollis taking the sting from the effort and allowing Carroll to collect comfortably before the central defender did well to head a dangerous Francomb free-kick over his own bar and away to safety.
A quick break from the corner saw McLeod cut inside from the left, onto his favoured right foot, before firing wide of Shea’s post.
Meanwhile, Carroll had to be alert to shovel Francomb’s curling effort away from danger as the game entered the last 10 minutes with only Hollis’ header the difference.
However, County couldn’t hold on as Francomb’s cross was glanced forward by Reeves and Bulman stole in at the back post to hammer into the roof of the net from four yards out and bring the hosts level.
Wimbledon could have had a second in quick succession as Azeez raced into the area at an angle but shot straight at Carroll with a number of home players waiting for the pull-back in the middle.
They did get their second with just a minute left of normal time. Akinfenwa bulleted a header into the bottom corner from Azeez’s cross to complete the turnaround and hand the home side all three points.
Notts: Carroll; Amevor, Swerts, Hollis, Audel; Aborah, Burke (Spencer, 90); Snijders (Jenner, 88), Stead, Campbell (Noble, 64); McLeod.
Subs not used: Loach, Edwards, Smith, Thompson.
Attendance: 3,962 (547 away)