Late Wombles Winner

Altrincham 0-1 AFC Wimbledon
Blue Square Premier: attendance 1,438
After a week indoors, the furthest I'd ventured out was to move the wheelie bins for collection, it was good to have a bright sunny day of t-shirt wearing weather just stood watching a match.

I've seen The Wombles before play FC United in a friendly fixture for the Direct Supporters Cup, and I used to enjoy the old Wimbledon play at Old Trafford. Those were fixtures with the lowest police presence of the season and we'd have a few bevvies with some of their supporters in the Throstle's Nest before the game.

Getting off the bus met a couple of their supporters up for the day. We chatted about football matters and I took them down to the Crown Inn, pointed out the ground a ten minute walk away next to the landmark radio mast and told them to get into the far end for the away supporters. I went off for a pie.

First half Wimbledon well on top being given loads of room to their No.8 Lewis Taylor out on the wing. Time and time again the bal sailed over there. But no goals. A marked lack of conviction in front of goal.

Half time I got to sit on the concrete steps, ate my sandwich and listened to a bit of radio on headphones. United were no score and I was fearing the worse at Wigan - a goal drought.

Second half I went behind the Altrincham goal thinking I would see some goals. All the Altrincham supporters had moved up to the other end thinking they'd see someone of their own team score. They do this every game. The Wimbledon supporters, maybe 200 or so, couldn't go anywhere being enclosed at the other goal end.

Altrincham did most of the attacking, coming close but just not doing enough. Last 15 minutes the game got stretched from end to end. Whoever scores now will win this. It was Wimbledon with a lovely low strike into a bottom corner. Last few minutes both sides had more attempts, in fact the last bit of the game was more exciting than the whole of the first half.

I'd heard United were 4 nil up and Owen had scored so was is in a good mood. Got a lift home from the Biffa herself who was down the road in Bowden - that's the posh bit of big houses with five car parking spaces.

Admission £13, programme £2, bus fares £2.60, tea £1, cheese & onion pie £1.40
Temperature 20 degrees C, slight breeze.