Josh Kelly's first two goals for the Dons came as no consolation to the striker, as we missed out on a play-off place on the penultimate Saturday of the League Two season.
Our February deadline day signing from Solihull Moors bagged a second half brace as ten-man Wimbledon twice fought back, but ran out of time and came up short in the push for points at Tranmere.
“I was delighted to get my first goal, but it doesn’t really mean anything now that we’ve lost the game and the play-offs are gone,” said Josh after the 3-2 defeat at Prenton Park.
“We gave away two goals a bit too easily in the first-half and it became a mountain to climb after that. The red card for John-Joe O’Toole didn’t help. I’m very disappointed with how it finished.
“With my first one, Omar Bugiel played a great through ball, slipped it down the side and I could see a little gap at the front post, so I just put my foot through it.
“For the second, Omar had a great flick on and it landed straight to me at the back post. I need to score more of them.”
Josh had found the net 14 times for his previous club this campaign, up until the end of January, which attracted the interest of Wimbledon to bring him to Plough Lane.
“It has made me mentally stronger having come through it now,” admitted Josh. “But I had gone a while without a goal - I know what it’s like.
“It’s been tough, with the expectation upon me to score straight away and it didn’t happen for a while, but now it finally has.
“I’d have to say all the lads have been supportive of me. No one has thrown me under the bus. Everyone has been helping and I’ve loved it here so far.”
Even while the dust is settling on an improved season for the Dons, Josh turned his attention to the next campaign.
Josh added: “We need to try and put on a good performance for our last home game, against Walsall next Saturday, and then set ourselves up for next season.
“There’s a lot of potential here. We just need to go away in the summer, everyone has to put the work in, and come back ready to try and get automatic promotion.
“I’m very excited at the prospect of that. It’ll be my first full pre-season with the Dons and hopefully I can stay fit and have another good season.
"It was good to get the monkey finally off my back as I’ve been waiting quite a while for it, so that’s the only good thing I, personally, can take from this game.”
Photos: Malcolm Bryce (Pro Sports Images).
