FULL-TIME REPORT: Accrington Stanley 2 AFC Wimbledon 2 (2-3 on aggregate)

Josh Windass, playing what will prove to be his last match for the club before he joins Rangers, levelled the tie in the 39th minute when he made it 17 goals for the season from the penalty spot.

And John Coleman’s side went 2-1 in front on aggregate after Piero Mingoia scored a goal to remember 20 minutes later.

But the Reds let a maiden trip to Wembley slip from their grasp as Wimbledon forced extra-time through substitute Adebayo Akinfenwa and then netted what proved to be the winner through Lyle Taylor.

Two floodlights suffered a power failuire n the second period of extra-time but, while they came back on after a seven-minute delay, Stanley could not hit back.

The Reds made one change to the team that started the late and controversial 1-0 first-leg loss at Kingsmeadow as Shay McCartan came in for Sean McConville, one of only three players in their squad who featured in the club’s other appearance in Football League play-offs five years earlier.

Wimbledon, in contrast, were unchanged. That meant Tom Beere, who scored their injury-time winner four nights earlier, had to settle for a place on the bench.

But buoyed by that 93rd-mintue goal, which Reds boss Coleman was adamant should have been ruled out for a foul, the Dons were fast out of the traps.

Twice in the first 10 minutes they went close through their top-scorer Taylor, who fired one shot down Ross Etheridge’s throat and then saw the Stanley goalkeeper tip another past the post.

It was a fine save and an important one, too, as after it the Reds started to take a grip on proceedings.

Tom Davies slid a close-range effort straight at Kelle Roos before Billy Kee headed over.

Sean Rigg then dragged a good opening wide but, with the inspirational Red Army responding to Coleman’s pre-match rallying cry to raise the roof, it was Stanley who were looking the likelier.

And, after McCartan saw a header comfortably saved by Roos, they broke the deadlock.

Scott Brown was scythed down in the box by Rigg and the ice-cool Windass did the rest from the spot as he sent Roos the wrong way to move level with Kee at the top of the Stanley scoring charts.

Rigg should have atoned for his error almost immediately, seeing one attempt brilliantly blocked by Adam Buxton and blasting another wastefully over, before Roos nearly spilled a shot from Windass.

The Wimbledon keeper redeemed himself with a smart stop from Mingoia at the start of the second half.

But Roos could do absolutely nothing to prevent the electric winger from putting the Reds ahead in the tie just before the hour mark.

Mingoia picked up possession inside the Dons half before shrugging off his marker and letting fly with a stunning 30-yard strike that swerved its way into the top corner of the net.

It was a goal good enough to decide any game but within nine minutes Stanley were pegged back as Barry Fuller dug out a superb cross to the back post that Akinfenwa headed in powerfully.

It was a beauty from The Beast and moments later his namesake and fellow substitute Adebayo Azeez was a whisker away from heading in.

The Dons were coming on strong and Andy Barcham so nearly headed in from a long throw before Akinfenwa sliced past the post.

Extra-time was needed and the club formed following the decision to allow the original Wimbledon to move to Milton Keyes soon went closer still.

Akinfenwa headed a cross down to Azeez whose over-head kick beat Etheridge but not Davies on the line.

But the Dons were not to be denied and, while Etheridge stopped Jake Reeves from putting a finishing touch to a barnstorming run into the box, Taylor volleyed in the follow up with 104 minutes on the clock.

It proved to be winner with Stanley unable to find the goal that would have forced penalties either before or after the contest was delayed due to the floodlight failure.

And Wimbledon’s margin of victory would have been greater had Etheridge not denied Azeez.

It mattered little, however, and the Dons progress to face Plymouth Argyle in the final.