There was to be no fairy tale FA cup dream for the Dragons as the AFC Wimbledon march on to the first round proper with a slender victory at the Camrose on Saturday, October 23.
Another fine ‘Stoke performance sent the home fans away with a feeling of what might have been but full of optimism that if Town can continue in this form then a continued march up the table should be well within their grasp.
Town were unchanged from the side that had defeated Blue Square Bet South leaders Bromley; the ‘Dons made one change to the side that took them to the top of the Conference National and Town were up against striker Danny Kedwell who has already netted nine goals in the league this season.
‘Stoke manager, Frank Gray, must be wondering what he has to do to get past the ‘Dons as the League encounters two seasons ago were both by one nil victories with the home tie settled by an own goal.
After a heavy pre kick-off downpour the sun came out and the crowds came in and the Dragons attacked the Town end goal with a slight wind advantage. Both sides conjured an early chance inside the first five minutes, Ed Harris heading just over for the visitors from a long throw and the hosts responded with Greg Draper working ‘keeper Seb Brown forcing him into a good early save. The game ebbed and flowed with both sides enjoying periods of pressure but, as had happened the previous week, the home side worked hard to neutralise the visitors and close them down. Draper again forced a low save out of Brown on 20 minutes from the edge of the box.
Town thought that they had taken the lead on 26 minutes when they won a corner, Matt Pattison took short to Matt Warner whose cross found Ross Adams at the far post , Brown managed to get a firm hand to push the ball over from just under the bar. The visitors reply with Stuart Lake doing well to break up a Wimbledon attack and Simon Moore saved well from a Kedwell shot. Draper headed well wide following a fine cross from Pattison and at the other end the effective Christian Jolley played Andre Blackman in on the left and he turned and blasted over from the edge of the box.
Town finished the half strongly as Pattison shot wide following a defensive mistake and a fine run from Nathan Smart saw his cross evade everyone in the box, a connection from David Pratt or Draper would have produced a goal. The ‘Dons had looked shaky in defence in the first half and town had been more than a match for them.
Half-time: Basingstoke Town 0 AFC Wimbledon 0
The visitors came out in the second half looking more composed and made less errors but still could not take control of the game as they would have been expected to. The Dragons hustled and bustled in an attempt to keep the lid on their opponents and it was working as the first opportunity of the second half fell to Draper courtesy of Pratt and shortly after Stephen Gregory made his way into the referee’s notebook as the ‘Dons grew in frustration.
Two of Town’s best chances fell to Lake within the spell of five minutes, on 55 minutes a fine move involving Pratt, Pattison and Draper saw Lake in a good position 16 yards out and he drove the ball straight at Brown. Five minutes later again in a good position his shot went just wide.
At the other end it was Kedwell who had two chances in quick succession, firstly Moore did well to save at the inform strikers feet. Kedwell then had a shot blocked and the rebound skied over the bar. Town were looking in control, matching their opponents man for man and with the belief that they could win the game but looking as though they would get a windfall replay in South London. But disaster struck with 19 minutes to go, a corner came in from the right and Town failed to deal with the situation. This was the first time in the game that they had looked exposed and the ball came out to Harris who had time to take a touch and fire the ball in through the crowded box past the unsighted Moore.
This was to prove the decisive moment and heartbreak for Moore who had kept well and for his team mates and fans alike, despite their best efforts there would be no way back for the Dragons.
Town kept going and three minutes later a perfect cross from Pattison (seemingly gets better each game) found Jide Ogunbote who somehow managed to miss when it would have been easier to score, heading over from inside the six yard box, unfortunate for Ogunbote who has been one of Town’s most improved players in recent weeks. ‘Stoke were pressing hard forcing the visitors further and further back in desperate search for an equaliser. Some in the crowd thought it was there on 76 minutes as Pattison tried to force the ball home but Brown held on to it on the line.
Both sides made changes as the visitors looked to repel the challenge and the hosts force a replay. A rare foray forward for the’Dons saw substitute Luke Moore test his namesake in the Town goal from long range. In the final minute late substitute Jahson Downes almost got clear in on goal but centre half Ismail Yakubu made a great challenge to stop the advance of the Town striker. The Wombles had to survive four minutes of added time and the Dragons won a succession of free kicks in which Moore pushed high up the park to take but could not find that one bit of magic.
The result was hard on Gray and his men and the fans who had turned up in good numbers, and even for the most die-hard Wimbledon fan it would be difficult to say anything other than Town fully deserved another bite of the cherry as their effort had been tremendous.
So, AFC Wimbledon will progress to the first round proper with a home tie against Ebsfleet while Town return to the league with a tricky home tie against Welling United who seem to have put their off field problems behind them and won six of their last seven league outings. But it is not all over in cup for Town as they still have the Hampshire Senior Cup and FA trophy to play for.
Town: Moore, Smart, Finlay, Adams, Gasson, Lake, Pattison(Laidler 77), Ogunbote, Pratt, Draper(Downes 85), Warner(Reynolds 82). Subs, not used: Rice, Williamson, Frewen, Allen
Attendance: 1,750
Photgraphs courtesy of Lynda Partridge
