1948
Saturday, 30 October 1948
Isthmian League
Plough Lane
 
Wimbledon
Les Dowding (2), Charlie Smith (2), Ron Head
5 - 2
Clapton
?

Injuries to Arthur Maggs and Ken Lister brought about enforced changes at the back. Billy Cousins, only just back from injury himself, and preparing for a warm-up in the reserves, found himself partnering Ron Winsbury at the back and Doug Munday returning to the centre-half position.

Winless Clapton were like lambs to slaughter and the home side started with determined raids on their goal. Charlie Smith caused Lowman to over-hit a back-pass to his keeper and it hit him on the chest and wide for a corner before Dowding gave the Dons a tenth minute lead, heading home a perfect cross from Billy Laws. An overhead kick from Smith forced a save and although Clapton looked good on the break they had no punch. Five minutes from the break the lead was increased, again Laws providing the cross and Dowding scoring, this time after Smith had prevented the keeper reaching the ball. Cousins almost put the ball through his own net when trying to pass back to Haydock, but it went narrowly wide for a corner.

A free-kick from Lowman found Thomas and he was left with a simple task to pull one back for the visitors, however this only served to spur on Wimbledon and Harry Stannard immediately set Smith through to scoop the ball in and then repeated the act for Ron Head to score the fourth with a low shot. Provider should have turned scorer, but Stannard then shot way too high when only five yards out. A handball in the area allowed Clapton a free shot, but Haydock was equal to the spot-kick. Towards the end the home side forced two corners and after a prolonged tussle in the Clapton box Smith hooked the ball into the net.