Stanley Denied First Win By Defiant Dons

Venue: Kingsmeadow
Attendance: 4585 (106 away)
Result: AFC Wimbledon 1-1 Accrington Stanley
Goalscorers: Bennett (86), Odejayi (17)

On Saturday 12th October, with Crawley's trip to Bristol City postponed, I took the short trip to AFC Wimbledon as they took on Accrington Stanley in League Two. Stanley were looking for their first win of the season, while the Dons were hoping to make it five wins from their six games at Kingsmeadow. 

Jumping on a train from Horsham, via Clapham, I arrived at Norbiton Station at around 1pm and made the short walk to Kingsmeadow with a contingent of Dons fans, with the help of Alice of course (I'll put that in or she'll kill me). I soaked up some pre match atmosphere before heading into the ground.
Kingsmeadow has seen major improvements since my last visit to Kingston Upon Thames; the once compact terrace behind the goal has been transformed into a smart looking all seated structure, known as the Nongshim Stand. I decided to stand with the away fans for this game, in the far terrace in the corner. 

Kingsmeadow's Nongshim Stand

I asked some Accrington fans their views on the game to come, and their season so far. The Guilfoyle family said "it's been a disappointing start to the season and we've had a few injuries." I asked them what they thought about James Beattie's role at the club; "He's the right man for the job. There's been a lot going on behind the scenes and he just needs time to adapt. I predict a 2-1 win for Stanley today!" When asked about their prospects for the season they said "we'd hope for midtable, but 22nd will do!"

Accrington Stanley lined up as follows:
BETTINELLI, HUNT, ALDRED, ATKINSON, NAYLOR, MINGOIA, JOYCE, MURPHY, RICHARDSON, CATON & ODEJAYI.
Wimbledon lined up as follows:
WORNER, FULLER, KENNEDY, BENNETT, S MOORE, SMITH, MIDSON, L MOORE, PELL, PORTER & WESTON.

Match Action

The teams emerged from the tunnel in their traditional home colours - The Wombles in blue and yellow, with Stanley in red and white. The ref blew his whistle to indicate the start of the game, and immediately the game burst into life. Just two minutes had gone when Jack Midson forced a save from Stanley stopper Marcus Bettinelli. I'm not overreacting when I say that that is the only mentionable piece of action in the first half as far as AFC Wimbledon are concerned, Stanley dominating throughout the opening period. Within the first fifteen minutes of the match, Accrington had already seen three chances saved by Wimbledon keeper Worner, before Tom Aldred's header was caught. The early pressure finally paid off , Lee Naylor's inswinging corner finding the head of Kayode Odejayi who leapt highest to open the scoring and send the loyal Accrington faithful into jubilation. Just ten minutes later, Accrington had the chance to double their lead after a mix up in the AFC allowed Peter Murphy to clear the goalkeeper and chip towards goal, but Michael Richardson out-stretched leg failed to connect.
The turning point in the game came in stoppage time at the end of the half when a small scuffle, or handbags as you might call it, led to goalscorer Odejayi being dismissed.

Stanley celebrating opening the scoring

With Accrington leading at half time, there was no doubt that AFC Wimbledon would come out fighting in the second half. Straight from the off, the Wombles dominated the game, however a succession of corners led to nothing and Stanley could count themselves lucky as Jack Midson heading just wide. 
A stunning double save from Marcus Bettinelli to deny Midson and them Luke Moore again left Wimbledon cursing their luck. The pressure continued, and in the 86th minutes, Alan Bennett headed home a pinpoint cross to rescue a point for the Dons. Moments earlier, Michael Richardson missed the chance to win the game for Stanley, his long range strike going narrowly wide. 
In stoppage time, Wimbledon could have dramatically won the game but a fine defensive display meant that the game finished level. No doubt Wimbledon will be the happier of the two sides. 

The End For Hinckley? Or Just The Beginning?

Liquidation. A word among football fans that is feared. Liquidation means their football club ceases to exist. For one Leicestershire town today, liquidation became a reality. After 114 proud years, Hinckley had lost its football club. The cash-strapped Knitters had been wound up by the High Court. Saturday's 3-0 defeat at Chesham United was the final match in a turbulent existence of Hinckley, and the DeMontfort Stadium will lie empty for the unforeseeable future. With financial constraints prompting the demise of many football clubs, we beg the question; What's going wrong?

The Knitters have taken their last breath...for now.

                                         

No doubt this article may cause a few disagreements. As a supporter of Crawley Town I have come under fire numerous times due to our alleged 'bank rolling' but personally, the situation of liquidation is very real. I could well have been supporting an 'AFC Crawley' or some kind of equivalent. My beloved Red Devils, not long ago, were just minutes from insolvency. In 2006, the club's debts had spiralled out of control, in excess of £1.8 million, at the hands of the crooked Majeeds. A rescue package from the late Bruce Winfield, who pumped hundreds of thousands into his boyhood club, had saved the Reds. Again, in 2010, the end looked very likely, with complications arising through payment to HMRC. The future for Crawley Town looked bleak. This latest setback meant that the Red Devils could have taken its last breath. The case was later dismissed by the High Court, however no more risks were to be taken; the council agreeing to lease the Broadfield Stadium to the club to ensure the long term sustainability of Crawley Town Football Club. 

As Hinckley faces its first day without a football club, for the supporters, no doubt, it is not the end. There are clear example today of how the fans have risen their teams from the ashes to form a phoenix club. Hinckley United are not alone. As fans on some outfits will tell you, this is just the beginning of a new chapter....

AFC Wimbledon are a fine example of moral victory for fans. With the FA allowing Wimbledon FC's moved to Milton Keynes, the original Crazy Gang who were bereft at the loss of their club formed their own side from scratch, and started from the bottom in the Combined Counties League. As Wimbledon FC lost its identity, and became Milton Keynes Dons, AFC Wimbledon were born. Fan's took ownership of their club, holding trials on Wimbledon Common, selecting a strong line up and found a new home at Kingsmeadow. The Dons have enjoyed a rapid rise up the leagues, achieving 9 promotions in 11 years, and now find themselves one league below their controversial incarnation MK Dons, in League Two. They have a tight knit fan base and most importantly, are fan owned. A return to Plough Lane, the original home of Wimbledon FC looks likely for AFC Wimbledon. A moral victory for fans who had their club ripped away. The love a football fan has for their club, whatever league, whichever country, will never die, The passion will never die. As AFC Wimbledon fans have shown, the end is not the end. The end is NEVER the end.

AFC Wimbledon Supporters have enjoyed the rapid rise of their side.

For the supporters Darlington FC the story is not dissimilar. Their club may not have been moved 70 miles up the M1, but they too lost their club. Darlington FC were at the heart of the Durham town. The club played at Feethams, an 8500 capacity ground in the centre of Darlington before their infamous and controversial chairman George Reynolds moved the Quakers to the Arena (it's had several names!) on the outskirts of the town. This sparked the downfall of Darlington FC. An unfeasible, unsustainable, 25'000 seater white elephant eventually cost Darlo' their existence. With the club averaging between 1500 and 2000 supporters since its grand opening, the costs to run the stadium became too much. Relegation to the Conference led to crowds dwindling further, and soon financial trouble hit the Quakers. On 21st June 2012, Darlington FC ceased to exist. Out of the ashes rises Darlington 1883....

Darlington 1883 celebrate a key goal in their promotion campaign

....Saturday 18th August 2012. Darlington 1883 play their first game in the Northern League at Heritage Park, Bishop Auckland against the club they groundshare with. Darlington 1883 3-1 Bishop Auckland. They may find themselves in the lower echelons of non-league football, but yet again, the fans win. 

Chester City, Rushden & Diamonds, Aldershot and Telford United. Just a few clubs to have risen again and who are all the better for it. While Rushden & Diamonds (Or AFC as they are now known) may be an amateur side in the Northamptonshire Youth League, they are a club, and a club which without the fans would never exist. Chester FC are just one tier away from the comfortable surroundings of the Football League, and are enjoying a mixed season in the Conference. They may not be doing too well in the league but their fans have a club. Aldershot may be in more financial trouble, but their fans have a club. My point is, these fans have a club. 

I myself am unsure of the main point of this article. It seems I have been rambling on about other club's success and how they've started again but that was far from my intention. If you take anything from this article, take away the concept of fan ownership just think...If that was your club, what would you do? Hinckley United, you are far from gone. You will be back someday. It may take years, but you'll be back. Through many a defeat, that in itself is a victory.