AFC Wimbledon beaten by Arsenal Under-21s as their league winless run stands at six
Wednesday 28 October 2026 · By Philip Cravenshaw
AFC Wimbledon lost 2–1 at home to Arsenal Under-21s in the Jersey Mike’s Trophy on Tuesday night, in front of 3,050. There is no League One game tonight, and the defeat came with Johnnie Jackson’s side still looking for a first league win in six matches.
Callum Maycock put Wimbledon ahead on 48 minutes from a Sessegnon assist, but Evan Mooney equalised on 72 minutes and Emerson Nwaneri scored the winner on 87 minutes. Arsenal Under-21s top Southern Group F with six points, and Wimbledon are second, according to the BBC.
In the league, Wimbledon are 17th on 13 points from 12 games, with three wins, four draws and five defeats. They have scored eight goals, level with Wigan Athletic for the fewest in the division, and conceded 19, for a goal difference of minus 11. The BBC form guide reads D D L L L D.
That run includes a 5–0 defeat at Sheffield Wednesday on 17 October and a 3–0 defeat by Mansfield Town three days later. On Saturday 24 October they drew 1–1 at home with Wycombe Wanderers, in front of 8,069, with Stockley scoring on 29 minutes before Onyedinma replied for Wycombe on 60.
The table, last updated at 01:28 GMT on Wednesday, has Wimbledon three points above 21st-placed Peterborough United, and eight points behind sixth-placed Reading. League One’s top two go up automatically, third to sixth go into the play-offs, and the bottom four go down. Their home game against Stevenage is postponed and no new date has been announced.
There is serious news off the pitch. The BBC reported on 23 October that assistant manager Terry Skiverton has been diagnosed with throat cancer and is receiving treatment. We wish him well.
The club’s ownership is also in focus. The BBC reported on 21 October that Ryan Bertrand and Sloane Street Capital would invest £87m for a 34 per cent stake, and that the Dons Trust board recommends members vote yes. A members’ meeting takes place tomorrow, Thursday 29 October. An extraordinary general meeting follows on 10 November, voting closes on 17 November and the result is due on 18 November. Nothing has been decided.
On the pitch, Saturday’s match is at Stockport County, who lost 1–0 at Oxford United on Tuesday night, ending a six-match unbeaten run. Stockport are second on 23 points, with seven wins from 13 games. Kick-off is at 15:00 GMT on Saturday 31 October.
Wimbledon then go to Crewe Alexandra in the FA Cup first round on Saturday 7 November at 15:00 GMT. Blackpool, who are 20th on 11 points and beat Aston Villa Under-21s 3–2 in the same competition on Tuesday night, visit on Saturday 14 November at 15:00 GMT, and Wimbledon are at Leyton Orient on Saturday 21 November, also at 15:00 GMT.
Welcome to Plough Lane. The Cherry Red Records Stadium is AFC Wimbledon’s modern home in Merton, a few hundred metres from the original ground the old Wimbledon club left in 1991. It opened in November 2020 and holds 9,215. For visiting supporters it is compact, easy to read, and generally well run, provided you allow time for the walk from the station and for bag searches at the gate.
Away fans sit behind the north goal in the North Stand, also known as the Togglit Stand. The allocation is about 1,465 seated places. Your entrance is Gate 7, reached from St Martin’s Way or Maskell Road. Do not follow home crowds towards Plough Lane itself; that side is for the Cappagh, Ry and South stands. Ticket collection on the day is usually at the booth near Gate 6. Away supporters can typically arrive from 90 minutes before kick-off. Prices commonly sit around £27 adult, with cheaper bands for concessions, 18–21s and under-17s, and a matchday surcharge if you buy late.
The diagram above is drawn roughly to scale. The pitch runs north–south. The west side is the permanent Cappagh Stand, the largest structure, with offices, hospitality and the best sideline views. Opposite is the Ry Stand. The south end is the home terrace with rail seating and the noisiest Wimbledon support. Goals sit immediately in front of the north and south stands, so from the away end you look straight down the pitch towards the home end.
The official address is Plough Lane, London SW17 0NR. There is almost no matchday parking on site and surrounding streets sit in controlled parking zones, so rail is the sensible option. Haydons Road (Thameslink and Southern), Earlsfield (South Western Railway to Waterloo) and Tooting Broadway (Northern line) are all within walking distance. From Earlsfield it is a straightforward walk down Garratt Lane then towards the north-east corner of the ground. Check TfL before you travel; post-match trains can be busy.
Pubs nearest the stadium tend to be home-oriented. Designated away options are often The Earlsfield and The Halfway House by Earlsfield station, or The Woodman on Durnsford Road near Wimbledon Park. Inside the away stand there are concourse kiosks for pies, sausage rolls, pizza and drinks, including alcohol in most blocks. Bags should be small — roughly 40cm × 30cm × 15cm — and will be searched. The ground is no-smoking, including vapes. Musical instruments are not allowed. Flags need a fire-safety certificate and prior agreement with the club because space is tight.
Views from the North Stand are decent for a behind-the-goal allocation: single-tier, close to the pitch, with the large west stand rising to your right. Persistent standing in a seated away end can draw steward attention. After the final whistle there may be a short hold-back. Facilities include toilets behind the away stand and accessible spaces that should be booked in advance through the club’s disability liaison officer.
Plough Lane is a fan-owned club’s return home rather than a corporate bowl. Treat the walk, the gate and the neighbours with a bit of patience and you will get a proper League football afternoon in a tight, colourful ground that still feels like it belongs to the people who built it.