Northampton beat AFC Wimbledon to take victory in final game before Christmas

Northampton Town won their last match before Christmas and last home game of 2025 as they beat AFC Wimbledon 3-1 at Sixfields.

The game had been level at half-time after Marcus Browne cancelled out Conor McCarthy’s opener. But two goals in nine second half minutes from Cameron McGeehan won the day for the Cobblers, who took the three points.

A victory saw Kevin Nolan’s side leapfrog their guests in the third tier table. The win was enough to mean that they are now up to 27 points, sitting 5 points from each of the play-offs and relegation zone ahead of the rest of League One playing on Saturday.

Seeking a return to winning ways after losing to local rivals Peterborough last time out, Northampton made a flying start when they took the lead inside ten minutes. They had already come close when McGeehan headed over, but in the tenth minute, Northampton struck when McCarthy headed in Dean Campbell’s corner.

AFC Wimbledon would equalise six minutes later, however. The hosts couldn’t clear their lines fully and after Ross Fitzsimons made a double save to keep out Alistair Smith and then Browne, the ball fell for Browne to pop the ball into the back of the net.

Ethan Wheatley would see a drive go wide via a deflection before AFC Wimbledon came close to completing a comeback when Fitzsimons denied Omar Bugiel and Smith’s rebound clipped the bar on its way over the top.

The game would duly be level at the break, but Northampton retook the lead five minutes after the break. From a long free-kick into the box, a slight touch from Wheatley set the ball up for McGeehan to touch the ball past away keeper Nathan Bishop. AFC Wimbledon felt Wheatley was offside, but the calls fell on deaf ears as the goal was given.

Having got their advantage back, Northampton duly extended it nine minutes later. In a similar manner to their second goal, a long free-kick was flicked on in the box, this time by McCarthy. That released McGeehan, who duly finished for his second of the night.

Fitzsimons was called into action to make a late save to deny Browne, but the job was done for the Cobblers as they picked up three points in their final home game of the year.

Northampton wrap up their 2025 schedule with two away matches, with the Cobblers visiting Burton Albion on Boxing Day before heading to Huddersfield in their last game of the year.