View from Kingsmeadow, Volume 39: Wrapping Up the Regular Season

A couple of matches closed out the regular-season campaign for Terry Brown's AFC Wimbledon. On Easter Monday, the club visited Forest Green Rovers, who were in a relegation fight with Southport and Altrincham to stay in the Football Conference National.

"We previously announced that we were looking to give all the players game time over Easter but some of our plans have been disrupted by injury and illness," said assistant manager Stuart Cash to AFCWimbledon.co.uk. "We have recalled Ed Harris from his loan to Dover and he was scheduled to play tomorrow, but unfortunately he suffered a knock in their game on Friday and he isn't ready. With Ismail Yakubu also suffering from a bug, this means that we can't rest Brett Johnson and Jamie Stuart, which was the intention.

"Although we can't quite achieve everything we wanted to, we are still expecting to give Ryan Jackson and Christian Jolley a start, while James Mulley is raring to go, having missed out recently following his suspension and the team's good form while he was out. Seb Brown will resume in goal.

"We only need one point to be absolutely certain of second place and the benefits that might come with that, but in our usual way we will be seeking all three points. Forest Green are battling to avoid relegation and we can expect a hard game, but to be honest, at this stage of the season we don't want a game where nothing is hanging on it—and in any event we owe it to the other teams in the relegation battle to try to win it. And if we don’t win we’ll never hear the last of it from Terry!"

Indeed, they would hear it from the Dons boss, as they settled for a scoreless draw. Nonetheless, the point was crucial, as it secured the No. 2 seed for the Wombles in the promotion playoffs.

AFC Wimbledon would wrap up their 2010-11 Football Conference regular season on Saturday, April 30 when they took on Grimsby Town.

"This week's training has gone without a hitch and everyone appears to be fit and raring to go for Saturday's game," Brown said. "We have taken the opportunity to recall Jon Main back from his loan spell at Dover so that he will be able to have some game time in our final league game of the season against Grimsby. Whatever the scoreline is tomorrow I am sure I will be able to ensure Jon gets to stride Kingsmeadow once more."

Having too much depth made selection a bit of a hassle, the Dons manager noted.

"The only problem we appear to have at the moment is which one of the several in-form players we have that I will have to leave out tomorrow," Brown said. "Looking at the side we have selected, the quality of not only the bench but the other squad players unable to participate in the game is the strongest I've worked with since I've been here.

"It won't be that pleasant an experience for some of the players but from a manager's point of view it's a very strong and positive position to be in."

The importance of being in form was stressed by the club during training on Friday.

"Saturday's game will be treated as an important game as it is our last one before facing Fleetwood next Friday," Brown said. "I would like to enter that game on the back of an unbeaten spell and we shall be looking to gain another three points against Grimsby. Having lost at Grimsby earlier on this season I would like to ensure that they don't become the second team to gain maximum points from us this year.

"I've asked the players to go out and play with flair and to enjoy themselves tomorrow and with no real pressure on the boys I expect them to do so."

Regardless of where AFC Wimbledon finishes in the playoffs, preparations for next season were in place.

"With a lot of league clubs releasing players and some overseas players available, we decided to hold a trial game at Walton Casuals' ground last night, with a view to next season's recruitment," Brown remarked. "The outcome was very positive and we have invited seven young hopefuls back to run the rule over them with the possibility of some of them hopefully entering the first team squad with three or four possibly joining our development set up with Marcus."

Goals from Luke Moore in the seventh minute and Brett Johnson in the 51st minute propelled Wimbledon to a 2-1 victory over Grimsby Town, avenging their earlier defeat on the road to the Mariners this season.

Up next for AFC Wimbledon is some playoff football. The first leg of the Football Conference National playoff semifinal with Fleetwood Town is scheduled for Friday, May 6. Kickoff at the Highbury Stadium is scheduled for 2:45 p.m. ET.

The second leg is scheduled for Wednesday, May 11. Kickoff at Kingsmeadow is scheduled for 2:45 p.m. ET.