View from Kingsmeadow, Volume 34: Wimbledon Gets Right in March

Terry Brown's AFC Wimbledon needed a break—ANY break—as the reserves were sprung into action on Tuesday against Beckenham Town in the London Senior Cup.

Brown himself was throwing in the towel in regards to Wimbledon's chances of winning the Football Conference National and turned his attention to the promotion playoffs.

"I thought from about 20 minutes in, we got back into the game and we were well worth Brett Johnson's goal," Brown told AFCWimbledon.co.uk on the club's 3-1 defeat to Crawley Town. "The sending off of Danny Bulman was wrong on two counts—first it didn't look like a red card to me, and second Ryan Jackson had a one-on-one run at their defender when the referee halted play. I'd back Jacko to go past anyone in that situation.

"At half time I thought we were well in the game but two turning points decided it. The first was when we had two goal bound shots, when Toks hit the post and Gareth Gwillim's shot was deflected. If we'd drawn level at that stage I am certain we'd have gone on to win it. The second was a poor piece of defending that led to their third goal, which was a well struck shot but we should have pressured their man earlier."

"That knocked the stuffing out of us for a while and although we dominated possession from then on, we couldn't get a second goal. It was a bitter pill to swallow to see James Mulley sent off for what I thought was a nothing challenge. We will decide whether to appeal when I've watched the video in full."

"So now we turn to Rushden and Diamonds next Saturday when I hope we will have four key players available again, Sam Hatton, Ismail Yakubu, Christian Jolley and Danny Kedwell. We are setting off on a mini season of what I am determined will be ten games, culminating at Manchester City's ground in May. That has to be our focus and we'll be getting down to it on Monday at training."

"But finally, let's give credit to Crawley—they look like they've won it now and I think they will be worthy champions."

It was not going to be easy for the Dons. Jerson Dos Santos had to play the role of Hero Number One 72 minutes into the contest to make it 2-2. Dos Santos got a brace in the 94th minute to make it 3-2 in the first extra time.

But after Beckenham's Danny Lawson made it 3-3, Harry Knock was the unlikeliest of heroes, breaking the hearts of Beckenham fans with a game-winner in the 120th minute of play to give the Dons their first win in March: a 4-3 thriller that saw them advance to the next round of the London Senior Cup, where they will meet the winners of Hendon and Thamesmead Town.

The win had to give Wimbledon some momentum heading into their Saturday contest with Rushden & Diamonds at Kingsmeadow.

"Sammy Hatton, Danny Kedwell and Christian Jolley resumed training on Thursday and Friday," Brown told AFCWimbledon.co.uk. "The first two appeared to come through unscathed but Christian still had one or two concerns surrounding his knee injury.

"We will be without the services of James Mulley who has been suspended for three games and Jamie Stuart who is ineligible owing to the terms of the transfer agreement with Rushden when he joined us earlier this season."

"We will, however, be able to call on Ricky Wellard, who was recalled earlier in the week from a very successful nine match spell at Cambridge, and I am pleased to say that Ismail Yakubu is back after his extended lay off."

Over the past week, the club signed Kaid Mohamed from Bath City to a deal.

"Saturday gives us an opportunity to start our new signing Kaid Mohamed, who looked sharp in training today, as we expected," said Brown. "I feel that the extra firepower is needed for the final run in and Kaid's goalscoring record as a wide forward is probably the best in the Conference.

"Justin Edinburgh has been incredibly successful with Rushden over the last two years and will still be pushing for a play off spot this year. As for us, we need to get back to winning ways as soon as possible and we now have two home fixtures in succession and will be looking to add sufficient points as soon as possible to secure the highest possible play off place.

"Having narrowly lost to Luton in midweek Rushden will come here in need of the three points that are vital to both sides. Having played them at a similar time last year, we know how difficult Saturday's game will be. The players have trained well this week and will be looking to start another good run as we approach the final league games of the season.”

Danny Kedwell scored in the 29th minute to give AFC Wimbledon a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Rushden.

With what has been a month of misery for the Dons in their rear view mirror, Wimbledon will look to April as an opportunity to gain leverage on their opponents in the race for the promotion playoffs.

Up next for the Dons is a date with Barrow FC at Kingsmeadown. Kickoff is scheduled for Saturday, Apr. 2 at 11:00 a.m. ET.