STEVENAGE, England (Interstat) — Stevenage edged AFC Wimbledon 1-0 in a tense and ill-tempered League One fixture at The Lamex Stadium on Saturday, March 14, 2026, securing a league double over the Dons and bolstering its promotion playoff position.

The match, which saw six yellow cards issued, was decided by a second-half goal from a Stevenage substitute, with the key contributions coming from Daniel Kemp and Alistair Smith. The result halted AFC Wimbledon’s two-game winning streak and provided a measure of revenge for Stevenage, which had been held to a scoreless draw in the reverse fixture on Dec. 26.

The contest was fraught from the opening moments, as Stevenage’s Alistair Smith was booked just three minutes into his substitute appearance. The physical tone persisted, stifling fluid play for much of the first half. Both teams struggled to create clear chances, with the defenses remaining organized and the midfield battle increasingly scrappy.

The deadlock was broken in the 66th minute. Forward Daniel Kemp, who was also booked earlier in the match, provided the crucial assist, slipping a pass to the recently substituted Smith. Smith then delivered the decisive cross, which was turned into the net by a Stevenage teammate to send the home supporters into celebration.

AFC Wimbledon, which had scored seven goals in its previous two matches including a 4-1 win over Blackpool, could not find an answer. The Dons’ attack was muted throughout, failing to seriously test the Stevenage goalkeeper as the home side closed out the game professionally. The frustration boiled over in stoppage time, with two more yellow cards issued in the final minutes.

With the victory, Stevenage improved its League One record to 16 wins, 11 losses and 10 draws, solidifying its place in the upper half of the table. AFC Wimbledon’s league mark moved to 14 wins, 15 losses and seven draws, leaving it in the mid-table as its inconsistent form continued.

The pregame projections from Interstat presented a conflicting outlook. The organization’s game simulator had predicted a 1-1 draw, while its ELO rating system gave Stevenage a 70.8 percent probability of victory. The actual result aligned with the latter forecast, underscoring Stevenage’s strength at home this season.

Historically, this fixture has recently favored Stevenage. The win follows a 5-1 victory for Stevenage in the season’s earlier meeting on Sept. 2, though the December clash ended in a stalemate.

Looking ahead, both teams face quick turnarounds. Stevenage travels to face Plymouth Argyle on Tuesday, March 17, while AFC Wimbledon will host Leyton Orient on the same evening, as the relentless League One schedule continues.