Friendlies Clubs· Season 2026
AFC Wimbledon beat Charlton Athletic 2-0 in a pre-season friendly, with Kai Jennings and Trialist B scoring either side of half-time.
Match Videos
Match Analysis
AI SummaryHow It Unfolded
Charlton started the brighter of the two sides. Tyreece Campbell dragged an effort wide from just outside the box, and Sonny Carey saw a shot deflected just off target inside the opening exchanges. From the resulting corner, Billy Koumetio's low strike was well held by Dons goalkeeper Joe McDonnell.
But against the run of play, Wimbledon struck with their first real chance. Marcus Browne's low, angled shot was saved by Thomas Kaminski, but Kai Jennings reacted quickest to squeeze the rebound home from close range in the 13th minute.
Charlton thought they should have had a penalty just before the half-hour mark. Campbell beat Isaac Ogundere, who appeared to bring him down as he shaped to shoot, but the referee waved play on. Carey then forced another save from McDonnell from a tight angle, and Miles Leaburn skewed wide soon after.
Wimbledon doubled their lead early in the second half. James Tilley's low cross was flicked on by Browne's heel, forcing Kaminski to palm the ball away, but it fell to Trialist B, who finished from close range in the 49th minute.
Nathan Jones made 10 substitutions just after the hour mark. Before the changes, Abby Fullah's fierce free-kick was tipped over by McDonnell, with Carey firing the follow-up into the side-netting. The game predictably fizzled out in the final quarter as both managers rotated freely.
The Turning Point
Charlton dominated the opening 12 minutes without scoring. When Wimbledon broke and scored with their first attempt — Jennings' poacher's finish from Browne's saved shot — the momentum swung decisively. The Addicks never truly recovered, and Trialist B's second-half strike killed any realistic prospect of a comeback.
Key Performers
Kai Jennings (AFC Wimbledon) — Took his goal shrewdly, reading the rebound off Kaminski and finishing before the defence could react. A constant nuisance in the final third.
Marcus Browne (AFC Wimbledon) — Involved in both goals: his shot forced the save that led to Jennings' opener, and his clever flick with the heel set up Trialist B's second.
Joe McDonnell (AFC Wimbledon) — Made several key saves, including from Koumetio early on and a sharp stop from Fullah's free-kick in the second half. Kept a clean sheet.
Tyreece Campbell (Charlton) — Charlton's liveliest attacker in the first half, beating Ogundere repeatedly and should have won a penalty. But he lacked a final product when it mattered.
Player of the Match: Marcus Browne
By the Numbers — Interpreted
Charlton registered more shots in the opening 15 minutes than Wimbledon managed in the entire first half, yet found themselves trailing at the break — a familiar pre-season tale of dominance without incision. Wimbledon's two goals came from a combined total of three touches inside the Charlton box, highlighting a clinical edge the Addicks could not match. The 10 substitutions Jones made around the hour mark disrupted any rhythm, but the damage was already done.
What It Means
For AFC Wimbledon, this was their fifth pre-season outing under manager Johnnie Jackson — a former Charlton legend — and their second win of the summer. The Dons are building towards the 2026/27 League Two campaign, with one more friendly to come against QPR.
For Charlton, this was their first defeat of pre-season after wins over Gillingham (1-0) and a draw with NK Maribor (1-1). Nathan Jones will be concerned by the lack of ruthlessness in front of goal, but the heavy rotation means fitness was always the priority. The Addicks travel to Colchester United on Tuesday 28 July for their next friendly.
Verdict
A pre-season friendly shaped by one team's wastefulness and the other's efficiency. Charlton created enough chances to win two games but left without a goal; Wimbledon took theirs and defended solidly. Nothing to panic about for either side, but Nathan Jones will want sharper finishing before the League One season begins.
Match Events
Key match events between AFC Wimbledon and Charlton — 2 goals and 2 cards recorded during the match.
Rivalry since 2016
AFC Wimbledon vs Charlton Head to Head Results· 14
AFC Wimbledon and Charlton have met 14 times — AFC Wimbledon won 6, Charlton won 5, with 3 draws. Their rivalry dates back to 2016. AFC Wimbledon leads the head-to-head with 6 victories from 14 meetings. A combined 40 goals have been scored across these fixtures, averaging 2.86 per match (20 for the home side, 20 for the visitors). Both teams scored in 9 matches (64%). Over 2.5 goals landed in 7 games (50%), making it a fixture that tends to produce goals. The highest-scoring encounter finished 5–2 in 2020.
Statistics are for informational purposes only. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
API data: 26 Jul 2026
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