AFC Wimbledon striker Jack Midson admitted that, after hitting the woodwork twice against Fleetwood, he had begun to wonder if the breakthrough would ever come.
However, come it did in the form of Gary Alexander’s header on 61 minutes, and so began the nail-biting finale to the League Two battle for survival.
After Alexander’s own goal immediately wiped out his opener, all eyes fell on Midson when he stepped up to take the vital spotkick and send the Kingsmeadow faithful into hysterical rapture.
But, after hitting the crossbar in the first and second half, Midson revealed the words of boss Neal Ardley kept the players’ heads up and eventually led to the victory.
Midson said: “After I hit the crossbar for a second time, I cannot deny that in the back of my mind I was wondering if it was ever going to happen.
Happy man: Jack Midson gives the thumbs up SP73108
“But no one gave up, even when we conceded. It was tough to concede so soon after taking the lead, but heads did not go down.
“But Neal [Ardley] has always told us that we all stick together, when the times are low we don’t start turning on each other, even when we are getting beaten, and it has all paid off.”
His cool penalty kick under pressure, and his contribution in a season of turmoil, drew praise from a jubilant Ardley, who paraded around the ground with his 10-year-old daughter Isabella after the final whistle.
He said: “One or two times this season I have left Jack out for whatever reason – but I think he has had an unbelievable season.
“Jack has scored 15 goals in a struggling team, he has probably assisted 10 and his work-rate is excellent. He has been fit all season, which is phenomenal.
“He is a big game player and every time we have a big game he has played well and I would not have let anyone take that penalty apart from him.”
Down time: Fleetwood's equaliser had the scores level, but not for long SP73108
For his part, Midson played down the moment, and said: “I’ve heard it was worth about half a million pounds to the club. But it is not about the money, it is about staying in League Two.
“We don’t get paid millions in League Two football, but it helps everyone’s career and I think it will change a lot of people’s path in football for the better.
“It means a lot to me personally, but if you look at what the club has achieved in the years it took them to get into the Football League, to drop back out would have been devastating for everyone.
“Thousands of people support AFC Wimbledon, and I am sure it meant that much to them too, which is quite something.
“I have played some Wembley finals – but this rates right up there in terms of the elation and avoiding dropping back down. It’s brilliant.”
As a loanee, Alexander’s time at Kingsmeadow could be over, but Midson has another year on his contract.
He said: “I am happy to honour that. “I would have honoured it even if we’d dropped down. But the club will learn from this and, as players, we will learn as well.
“Whether the club will increase the budget is up to them. But we need to strengthen and we need to make sure this does not happen again.”
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