View from Kingsmeadow, Volume 37: Wimbledon Wombles Into the Playoffs

AFC Wimbledon manager Terry Brown was contemplating the possible matchups for the Dons in the semifinals ahead of their clash with already-relegated side Histon.

"Saturday's game at Cambridge almost clinched our playoff spot, barring a Rory McIlroy-style end to the season," said Brown to AFCWimbledon.co.uk on Monday. "The last two games have seen us play with a lot more confidence and belief, and our ball retention on Saturday was our best of the season.

"What we have worked on today in training is translating the ball retention into chances and hopefully goals. We stressed to the players the importance of learning lessons from Saturday's game, inasmuch as if you are unable to put a game to bed, then football has a funny way of biting back at you.

"Credit is due to Cambridge in the second half, as their young side worked very hard and nearly got themselves back in the game.

"The training between now and hopefully the playoff final is all about retaining our fitness and ensuring that we have everybody fit and available for selection and entering May on the back of some good results.

"The size of the squad will be strengthened this week by the hoped-for return of Christian Jolley, plus James Mulley from suspension and Rashid Yussuff from his illness.

"As you can imagine this will give management something of a headache as far as selection is concerned, but having made the playoffs before, I can't tell you how important it is to have as many as possible of your best players fit and available for selection."

Depth has been instrumental in Wimbledon's recent win streak.

"In a midfield that dominated the game on Saturday," said Brown,"neither Rashid Yussuff nor James Mulley were available and if you add to that Christian Jolley not being available for the last month it really does show the strength in depth we now have at the club.

"With our fixtures schedule allowing us the opportunity to field everyone in the squad during the Easter weekend, it is a nice position for any manager to be in."

On Friday, Brown fancied his team's chances of punching their ticket for the playoffs.

"Once we have got this Saturday out of the way and provided that we've qualified for the play offs," said Brown to AFCWimbledon.co.uk, "we can fully concentrate on the three most important games in the club's history, which start a few days after the last scheduled game of the season.

"Once we have formally qualified, my major priority will be to keep every player as fit and fresh as we possibly can, going into the first semi final. The size and quality of the squad we currently have available will give me the opportunity to rest one or two of the players in the remaining league games; some of the players will rack up over 50 appearances this season."

In this case, finishing runner-up to Crawley in the table has its advantages, the Dons manager argued.

"Our target for this season will be to finish in the highest position possible which means aiming to finish in second place if we can," said Brown. "The second and third positions offer us the second leg of a semi final at home and I feel our boys are certainly capable of achieving that.

"The mood both in the dressing room and on the training pitch is very buoyant at the moment and as I stated earlier if we can steer clear of any injuries we will go into the play offs in fine fettle.

"Some of the players who are not in the starting line up tomorrow will be able to get some game time at home to Hendon in the London Senior Cup semi final on Tuesday."

As expected, AFC Wimbledon slammed the door shut on Histon, winning 4-0.

Danny Kedwell opened up the scoring in the 13th minute for Wimbledon. In the second half, however, things really began to fall apart for a youthful, inexperienced Histon side.

After Luke Moore added to the feast with a brace, scoring in the 63rd and 64th minute, Kedwell got his own brace with a goal in the 67th minute.

As Wimbledon begin their preparations for the playoffs in the hope of securing home-field advantage for the semifinals, there is some cup action to take care of on the side.

Next Tuesday, April 19, AFC Wimbledon takes on Hendon in the semifinals of the London Senior Cup. Kickoff at Kingsmeadow is scheduled for 2:45 p.m. ET.

On Friday, April 22, the Wombles will resume Football Conference National action against Mansfield Town. Kickoff against the Stags is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. ET.