Ronan Curtis sends Wimbledon fans into raptures with 94th minute winner vs MK Dons

"He was desperate to start and he probably had the hump with me that he didn’t."

Sat, 02 Mar, 2024 - 17:41

PJ Browne

Ireland international Ronan Curtis scored a 94th minute winning goal for Wimbledon in their League Two clash with bitter rivals MK Dons on Saturday.

The game appeared to be heading for a goalless draw until Curtis, who had entered the action just 13 minutes earlier, struck a left-footed shot from the centre of the penalty box past the MK Dons goalkeeper.

"He was desperate to start and he probably had the hump with me that he didn’t," Wimbledon manager Johnnie Jackson told the club's website.

"We timed it well with him. I felt it was a game for impact from him. We know the quality he’s got. When a chance like that pops up, there’s no one you’d rather have on it.

"I’m buzzing for him and all the players. They were outstanding and they left it all out there. That’s the lads on the pitch, the lads on the bench and the lads in the stands who weren’t involved."

The 27-year-old joined Wimbledon in January on a short-term deal. Even if his time at the club does not extend beyond this season, he will go down in club lore. Saturday's goal was his third for the club.

"I can’t put it into words," Jackson continued.

"It’s the highs and lows of football. Today is a reminder of why we love it, why we do it. Personally that’s the best feeling I’ve had in the game. It’s not about me today, it’s about Wimbledon. This football club has waited a long time for that moment. We were magnificent.

"The performance was outstanding on the pitch, in the stands. Behind the scenes, how hard everyone has worked knowing we had a big game – to win it like that, you couldn’t write it or make it up."