The Lounge

[Colum]

It’s a good job Neil Ardley and the team are relaxed about the Accrington game, because I’m as nervous as hell. I wasn’t this nervous before the FA Cup final, the Conference Play Off final, or even last ditch game against survival against Fleetwood three years ago. I’ve had butterflies for three days now.

Why? I don’t know. Maybe it is all the omens.

14 May is my mother’s birthday. I needn’t remind you what happened on 14 May 1988. Then there is the pigeon that dropped it’s bowel movement on me in the garden this morning. And I’ve been drinking out of my AFC Wimbledon mug all day!

Can Accrington do a Brighton? Come on you Dons!!!

[Colum]

Right. Where’s Accrington. 🙂

[onyadon]

What a thrill to watch home-grown Tom Beere slam home the winner at the second attempt deep in stoppage time to give the Dons a 1-0 advantage to take to Accrington this week. On the run of play I thought Accy were more composed and threatening than the Dons, until the final stages when the introduction of Bayo Akinfenwa turned things for Wimbledon. Bayo had a rasping drive come off the inside of the post and was giving Accy’s defenders headaches with his sheer physical presence. If (if) this is Bayo’s last season at Kingsmeadow what a tremendous final appearance he put in for the Dons, helping give the lads a 1-0 playoff win. Robbo and Charles were steadfast at the back, Barry Fuller and Callum Kennedy good on the flanks, but I thought Barcham and Rigg faded out of the match as did Lyle Taylor (after his bright start). While Beere was getting deserved kudos Kelle Roos made a crucial one-handed save in the final moments that could yet prove decisive in the overall tie. Obviously, we can expect Accy to come at us hard on Wednesday. They will feel hard done by and the Dons defence and midfield will have to work mighty hard to keep them out. But I think we can go okay away, cheered on by a large vocal Dons following (strong focused support) and we have scored more goals at Accrington than at home (now 7-5). It is going to be squeaky bum time up there, but we have our noses in front. The trick will be to keep it there for a trip to Wembley. Exciting times!!

[Windlesham Don]

A magnificent evening all round – besides the on field performance, which hopefully you all got to witness wherever in the globe you were located, the bars did a roaring trade from 2 hours before kick off until long into the night. The ground was rammed with (by my reckoning) a record crowd inside the ground and the atmosphere was up there with the Liverpool game.

Whilst I was relaxed and happy before last night as I saw making the playoffs as a bonus, now a fuzzy distant vision has come sharply into focus. Wembley, the iconic arch, and another historic day in our history is now tantalisingly within reach…

From now until Wednesday I do not think I will be quite as relaxed. From here we should do it. The Accrington confidence is visibly waning – the 93rd minute of their last two matches have now been very cruel to them. Their manager is spending more time whinging about things that have gone wrong than trying to keep his group positive.

There will be a large travelling army supporting the boys on Wednesday, hopefully in excess of 1000. If they can be loud and proud, and the if the players start confidently, then by Wednesday night we may, just may, be looking forward to another great day for the club.

COYD!!

[Colum]

Pompey are out, so it is Plymouth at Wembley if we hold onto our slender lead on Wednesday.

[Colum]

Don’t prevaricate!

On the day we knew we’d get Accy in the playoffs, I looked at the logistics of getting there and staying overnight. The result was a return train ticket for £55 and a hotel a mile from the ground for around £55. Not bad.

I got home after the first leg and checked again. Train ticket up to £150 and the nearest hotel 6-7 miles away was £70. What with meals, beer, and miscellaneous costs, the cost of travelling had more than doubled.

Doh! So I will be with the rest of the Dons massive struggling to get a good view of the game in the Middle Bar. Much like standing on the John Smith’s stand in fact. Bring it on.

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