Wimbledon 2 City 3

JAMES Hanson's post-match interview was interrupted by a grinning Rouven Sattelmaier handing him the groundsman's fork.

It might have been the German keeper's idea of a joke to mark his last-gasp heroics but, to be fair, the big man had certainly dug City – and himself – out of a hole.

With the three sides jostling with them at the top of League One all guaranteed victory, Stuart McCall's men had looked to be spiralling to a costly defeat. Then, step forward Hanson.

If anyone needed to spark their season into life it was the big man. After a series of false starts, it was time to deliver – and what a perfect moment to do just that.

First from the penalty spot and then, deliciously, deep into time added on burying a header into the bottom corner.

There is no better moment to transform defeat into victory – as birthday boy Romain Vincelot summed up with a certain Gallic "je ne sais quoi".

The City skipper said: "Last minute for a number nine is the kind of sensation they love. It helps them feel stronger.

"What a brilliant header – but I know Hans for a long time playing against him. When I saw the cross, I knew Hans would be in the right position and that was it."

Wimbledon away is the type of place where genuine contenders have to show what they are made of.

The little old lady serving the half-time teas for the press stopped almost mid-pour to punch the air as the tannoy announced that the under-18s had stuffed their Milton Keynes counterparts 4-0 earlier in the day.

"It's good to stick it up the Franchise again," she crowed, before asking politely if I'd like milk and sugar.

The giant womble mascot banging a bin lid and high-fiving with fans portrays the family image of a proud club that have risen from the ashes. But make no mistake, beneath that cuddly exterior is a steely resolve.

The spirit cultivated by the Crazy Gang lives on through a reborn club who have soared up the football pyramid since starting again 14 years ago.

Sheffield United, Bolton and Scunthorpe may have already won there this season but City faced a Wimbledon side unbeaten in eight since.

Without a win in three themselves, this was a test to show their early challenge was not fading away in the final hours of British Summer Time.

As it is, they completed the seven-month period between the clocks changing with only two defeats in 23 league games – a remarkable statistic over the equivalent of half a season.

City could not have asked for a quicker start. Lyle Taylor carelessly coughed up possession to Jordy Hiwula, who exchanged passes with Nicky Law to burst into the box before sliding a shot through two defenders for a third-minute lead.

But Wimbledon were level not long after – with City again opened up from a set-piece.

Hanson got a bit on George Francomb's free-kick but the ball then rolled down the back of the disoriented Timothee Dieng and Tom Elliott beat Colin Doyle at his near post with a ferocious finish.

Elliott, as Hanson later observed, was a much more physical proposition to the scrawny figure that Peter Jackson turned down in favour of Nialle Rodney in the flawed summer of 2011.

His size and strength made him a constant handful but he was well marshalled by the vigilant Vincelot and excellent Nat Knight-Percival.

In fact, it was a game of surprisingly few chances, given the scoreline. Neither keeper had a shot to save other than pick the ball out of the net.

Wimbledon came from behind to win on City's last visit in 2013 and threatened to do the same midway through the second half with a Taylor penalty.

The biggest crime was that Josh Cullen's foul on Ben Reeves came barely 15 seconds after City had taken a corner at the other end.

Andy Barcham led the break-out at full pelt and when he played Reeves into the box, Cullen made a rash challenge. Taylor sent Doyle the wrong way from the spot and a second successive loss on the road loomed large.

McCall had just switched systems by then – a move which was to paid dividends.

The midfield 'square' was gone with the withdrawal of Billy Clarke. The Irishman had probably covered more ground than anyone but the change meant City finally had some genuine width.

It had not been Cullen's day and he also made way so McCall could throw Filipe Morais on one side and Mark Marshall right in front of the away fans on the other.

That gave Wimbledon a new problem to contain. As home legs began to wilt, the task proved to be beyond them.

James Shea flapped at a Morais cross and in the melee that followed, the Wimbledon keeper compounded the error by clipping Matt Kilgallon.

City had their seventh penalty of the campaign – yes, SEVENTH already – but who would step up with Clarke back on the bench?

McCall did not get involved in the debate and turned his back to face the substitutes. There was an audible groan from behind the dug-out when they saw Hanson had used his seniority on Marc McNulty.

But any misgivings swiftly disappeared with the confident strike that broke the striker's duck for the season. It was his 88th City goal – but first from the penalty spot.

A ninth draw, the most in the country, beckoned for the Bantams. But they were not prepared to settle for a single-point reward in a game still there to be won.

Number 89 for Hanson, which duly followed in those extra minutes, came from a much more familiar route.

Stephen Darby, the only survivor from the starting line-up beaten at the death on their last visit, saw his chance of revenge.

He found room to cross from the right and Hanson for once managed to slip out of the grasp of close marker Paul Robinson to nod downwards and decisively into the far corner.

He then promptly disappeared in a jubilant scrum in front of the travelling army penned in by the corner flag.

There were still enough seconds left for a squeak at the other end as Tyrone Barnett's attempt flashed past a post before the points were secured.

It had been gritty rather than pretty at times but Hanson and City were back in unison once more.

Attendance: 4,826