Sutton Utd vs AFC Wimbledon

Sutton played the final 30 minutes with 10 men after using all their permitted substitutions. Under the friendly rules, once a side has exhausted its changes, no further rolling substitutions are allowed — leaving the U's a man down as Wimbledon pushed for the winner. The numerical advantage, combined with the late penalty award, proved decisive.

Temi Babalola (Sutton Utd) — Scored his first goal for the club with a well-taken header and led the line effectively against League One-calibre centre-backs. Agutter praised his all-round game, noting he "bullied" the Wimbledon defence and gave Sutton a direct attacking option.

Clever Muka (Sutton Utd) — The goalkeeper saved a penalty for the second consecutive friendly, though Agutter jokingly remarked that "neither of them was a penalty." Made a couple of positive early appearances in pre-season.

Zack Nelson (AFC Wimbledon) — Scored the equaliser four minutes from time, a composed finish that sparked the visitors' late revival.

Myles Hippolyte (AFC Wimbledon) — Held his nerve from the penalty spot in the 90th minute to seal the win for the League Two side.

The match was a tight, low-chance affair for much of the contest. The 0-0 half-time scoreline reflected the rotational nature of the friendly, with both sides prioritising minutes over outcome. Sutton's goal came from a direct attacking approach — a long delivery met by Babalola's aerial power — while Wimbledon's late flurry (two goals in the final five minutes plus stoppage time) was powered by the depth of their bench and the man advantage. The three penalties conceded across Sutton's pre-season (two saved, one scored) are a statistical quirk Agutter attributed to friendly referees rather than defensive frailty.

For Sutton United, this was their first defeat of pre-season after a 2-2 draw at AFC Totton (11 July) and a 2-0 win over Tonbridge Angels (14 July). Agutter's side next face Horsham at Gander Green Lane on 25 July before their National League campaign begins on 8 August.

AFC Wimbledon, who lost 3-2 to Brentford on 15 July, continue their pre-season build-up towards the 2026-27 League Two season. The Dons' late fightback will please manager Johnnie Jackson as his side showed resilience to overturn a deficit against organised non-league opposition.

A classic pre-season friendly — competitive, physical, and ultimately decided by squad depth and a late flashpoint. Sutton will take genuine encouragement from matching a League Two side for 85 minutes; Wimbledon will value the comeback mentality. Neither manager will read much into the result, but the manner of the loss will sting Sutton's Agutter more than the scoreline suggests.