1946
Saturday, 25 January 1947
Isthmian League
Plough Lane
 
Wimbledon
Pat Edelston (2)
2 - 1
Walthamstow Avenue
?

Influenza accounted for Cousins and Head, Fuller and Fuce stepping up, and Nash came back in for Birkbeck. Avenue were also depleted, Burchell away on England duty and Shergold with Wales. This was the re-arranged game after fog had scuppered the original attempt to play in mid-December.

Four minutes after the start the Dons gifted their opponents the lead. Fuller slipped attempting to roll the ball back to Haydock and it went straight towards goal, Haydock then slipped trying to reach it and it rolled into the back of the net. Encouraged, the visitors kept the Dons on the defensive and Clark had his work cut out, backed up well by Wallis and Fuller. As the game progressed Wimbledon came into it more, but Crouch was proving effective at clearing any crosses they managed to put in. Laker finally found Nash with one, but his first-time shot crept a foot wide of the post. Edelston, then Stannard twice, forced the keeper, Pinner, into saves, and then Stannard was presented with a chance by Edelston, but shot high. Edelston got the leveller twenty minutes in when he was first to a loose ball created by Crouch’s tackle on Stannard and shot home through a crowd of players. Wimbledon had the edge approaching the break and Pinner saved from both Stannard and Lemmer before the whistle blew.

Walthamstow came out with renewed purpose after half-time and Haydock had to be alert to Stather’s attempt to turn Davis’ cross into goal. Pinner dashed out to clear from Nash and by and by the Dons took control of the game. The keeper then saved from Stannard’s head and Fuce’s follow-up before Nash headed inches over. Avenue, who had conceded less goals in the League than any other side, defended stubbornly, and when they were beaten Pinner was impressive. Eventually though Fuce found Stannard, who put in a stinging shot that the keeper was equal to, but Laker was first to the parry and, despite slipping, found Edelston free and he whipped the ball into the net with twenty minutes left. The visitors rallied and when Russo crossed Haydock was out of position, but as Davis cut into shot into the empty net Clark dashed across and bundled him off the ball. Haydock then saved well from Russo and sent the ball long to Fuce at the other end. He found Laker, whose centre was only partially cleared and Pinner saved Nash’s resultant header under the bar. That was the end of the scoring and the Dons leapfrogged Walthamstow into fourth place.