View from Kingsmeadow, Volume 26: Priority Turns to the League

AFC Wimbledon, fresh off a 5-0 shellacking of Southport, looked to build up a win streak when they traveled to Bath City.

"We have good news on the international front with call ups for Seb Brown, Sammy Hatton and Steven Gregory, who have made the squad for the forthcoming International Challenge Trophy semi final against Belgium," manager Terry Brown said.

"Sam, Seb and Steven are established members of the squad now, and Wimbledon share with Luton Town and Rushden and Diamonds the honour of having the most players called up for the game, which will be played on Feb. 9 at Kenilworth Road, Luton's ground.

"Also, there is good news regarding Reece Jones, who has been promoted from the full Welsh under-19 team into the under-21 squad for the game against Northern Ireland, also on Feb. 9. The squad is selected by Brian Flynn, who is also the manager of the under-19 team, so Reece has clearly made a very good impression in his previous appearances."

Brown was pleased to noted that most of the weapons were at his disposal this week.

"After consultation with Delano Sam-Yorke," Brown said, "he has asked if he can return to Basingstoke on loan until the end of the season. The prospect of playing first-team football is clearly important to any lad of his age and I fully understand why he wants to play first team football at this stage of his career.

"Owing to the progress the first team has made this year, Delano has unfortunately not been given sufficient game time to press for a regular starting spot.

"Had we been in a position where the results weren't quite so crucial he would definitely have had game time between now and the end of the season. Delano has a great attitude both to training and playing, and I hope he does well under the guidance of Frank Gray at Basingstoke.

"Still on the subject of players, Roscoe Dsane has asked if he can train with the squad with a view to returning to playing again. He has played hardly any football recently but given our long association with him, and of course he was also with me at Aldershot, we're delighted to welcome him to join in and regain his fitness.

"We are looking forward to tomorrow's game at Bath. We should have everybody fit from Saturday's home win against Southport. It would be nice to keep a settled side as we have been unable to achieve this for a while.

"From previous experience, a Tuesday night visit to Twerton Park is never an easy one. It takes a while to get used to the slope and with a narrow defeat to Crawley and a well-deserved home point against Luton, we know we will be in for a very difficult game.

"This is the first of three very difficult away journeys over the next seven days and as usual we shall be setting out to win each game, although we realise this will be a difficult task."

A goal festival awaited the Dons at Twerton Park.

Danny Kewell scored for Wimbledon in the 32nd minute off a penalty and Kirk Hudson added a second in the 45th minute, but Wimbledon had to settle for a 2-2 draw after squandering the lead in the second half.

Combined with Crawley Town's 3-0 win over Cambridge, the Dons moved down to second in the Football Conference National table.

AFC Wimbledon had a short turnaround, as they took on Colliers Wood United in the Surrey Senior Cup on Wednesday. The match against Bath clearly took its toll on the players, as they exited the Cup to a disappointing 2-1 defeat.

The week of disappointment was not going to get any better for the Wombles, who traveled to Gateshead on Friday. Or was it not?

Goals from Christian Jolley in the 47th minute and Danny Kedwell in the 77th minute sent AFC Wimbledon back on the winning track with a 2-0 victory, and with it, a return to the top spot for now.

The win closes what has been a January from hell for the Dons, who record just three wins, Cup futility with two defeats, and five draws.

The Dons look to turn things around as they wrap up a long four-game road stretch against York City on Tuesday, Feb. 1. Kickoff at the Bootham Crescent in York is scheduled for 2:45 p.m. ET.

The Dons will then return home to Kingsmeadow to host Fleetwood Town on Saturday, Feb. 5. Kickoff is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. ET.