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ESPN staff 7y

AFC Wimbledon's Neal Ardley: Victory over MK Dons was for the fans

AFC Wimbledon manager Neal Ardley dedicated his side's historic 2-0 League One victory over arch-rivals MK Dons to the club's supporters.

Goals from Jake Reeves and Lyle Taylor saw Wimbledon secure a first-ever league victory over their foes at Kingsmeadow on Tuesday night.

The rivalry between the two sides stems from Wimbledon FC supporters being forced to form AFC Wimbledon in 2002 in response to the Football Association's decision to allow their club to move to Milton Keynes.

That bitterness was reflected in Wimbledon failing to acknowledge MK Dons on the cover of the matchday programme on Tuesday, while inside their opponents were referred to as "Milton Keynes," with no mention of "Dons."

"It's so important to our fans [to win tonight]," Ardley was quoted as saying by The Guardian. "It's hard when you have something that's so harsh done to you. It sticks and I don't think it's going to go away for a long time. I don't think it'll be any less intense in the future."

Former Wimbledon FC player Ardley added when asked where the result stood among his achievements with AFC Wimbledon and its predecessor: "It's up there. I know it's only three points but it's up there. All I want to do is make this club and the fans proud and tonight I think I've done that."

Wimbledon captain Paul Robinson echoed his manager's comments and said the victory was just reward for what the club's supporters had been through.

"It's a massive, massive game for everyone involved in the club," he was quoted as saying by the Evening Standard. "The journey it's been on, and for the history between the two sides, and for the first game here between the two sides.

"We knew it was an important night and it was an important night for a lot of people who care about this club and this club wouldn't be here if it wasn't for them, so I think what's pleasing is we were able to reward them tonight with the performance and the result that everyone wanted."

Despite his side suffering defeat, MK Dons manager Robbie Neilson said he still relished being part of the occasion.

"This is the best kind of atmosphere," he said. "You want to play in these games, important games that mean something."

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