11:52am Monday 20th April 2009
By Simon Fitzjohn
Jon Main admits he is still on cloud nine after the lethal striker climbed off the bench to fire AFC Wimbledon into the Blue Square Premier last weekend.
Main’s equaliser, three minutes from time, earned the Dons the point they needed with a 1-1 draw at title rivals Hampton & Richmond.
And the 34-goal hitman revealed the goal more than made up for the shock of being named on the bench.
Main said: “I had a massive hangover on Sunday, and although I was back at work on Monday I’m still buzzing.
“Without a shadow of a doubt it is the most important goal I have ever scored.
“I was absolutely gutted to have been dropped in the first place.
“Terry Brown told us the formation he was going for at training on Thursday, and I had a feeling I might miss out.
“Then he told us the team on Saturday morning, and he went with Danny Kedwell up front.
“So I had to sit on the bench and watch, but it made me realise that this is very much a team game, and we have a fantastic squad that really works for each other.”
Main’s goal came in slightly controversial circumstances as the referee elected to play on despite Hampton’s John Scarborough lying injured.
But the 28-year-old brushed aside talk that it was payback for the dubious decisions at both Eastleigh and Bromley.
He added: “I don’t think the goal compares with those at all.
“Two Hampton guys went to clatter Kedwell, and he jumped out of the way and they went into each other.
“The ref was happy to carry on, so we did nothing wrong.
“It was no more than we deserved, and I thought we played really well.”
The Dons can now celebrate in front of their own fans this weekend when they welcome St Albans City for the final game of the season.
And Main is itching to perform for the Kingsmeadow faithful.
He added: “Saturday will be fantastic.
“It is so great to be up before the final game, as the tension would have been terrible.
“But now we get to celebrate twice.
“Everyone can look forward to playing teams like Luton and Oxford, and it really is a dream to be playing in such a big league.”
AFC Wimbledon’s remaining fixture: Apr 25 St Albans City (h)
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