FA CUP SECOND ROUND -- FC HALIFAX TOWN vs AFC WIMBLEDON SATURDAY 1st DECEMBER 2018

The FA Cup comes around once more with the Second Round beginning this coming Friday night and the draw has given the Dons an away tie against National League (Conference) Division outfit FC Halifax Town. This tie has been selected to be broadcast on Live TV although this time it is planned for Saturday 1st December on BT Sport with a kick off at 12:30 and again like our first round game in the FA Cup it throws up another genuine chance of an upset. 

FC Halifax play in the National League and currently sit in 14th place on 25 points after 21 games. AFC Wimbledon would love to be comfortably mid table. Halifax have needed replays to progress this year in the cup, but will surely fancy their chances against an out of form Dons side who are currently without a manager and struggled to see off non league opposition in the 1st Round.

FORM GUIDE (Last 6 matches in their respective leagues, starting with the most recent result)
      AFC Wimbledon  --  LWLLLL
      FC Halifax Town   --  LWLDLD



LAST TIME OUT
Peterborough United 1  AFC Wimbledon 0
Ebbsfleet Utd 4  FC Halifax Town 0

The Dons come into this important FA Cup game on the back of a terrible run of defeats in League One, which had risen to eight in a row following the 1-2 reverse to Doncaster prior to Saturday and thankfully they ended that run with a 2-1 win at home against Southend United. Another game against high flying Peterborough United to come on Tuesday, the Posh are currently 5th so might be a tough ask away for Simon Bassey's Dons [Lost 1-0], we hope that there will be an announcement soon about the new boss with Wally Downes the current favourite to replace the departed Neal Ardley who has since taken up the job with Notts County in League Two. 

Updates will be published with team news and more news as and when it comes through.

Line Ups (Confirmed);

AFC WIMBLEDON

Odds -- 4/6 (Bet365) 

McDonnell (Gk),  Oshilaja (c),  Nightingale,  McDonald,  Purrington,  Jervis,  Hartigan,  Wordsworth,  Soares,  Pinnock,  Pigott

Subs – King (Gk),  Thomas,  Watson,  Trotter,  Wagstaff,  Hanson,  Burey

FC HALIFAX TOWN

Odds -- 9/2 (Betfred) 

Johnson (Gk),  Hanson,  Clarke,  Brown (c),  Sellers,  Staunton,  Maher,  Preston,  King,  Kosylo,  Southwell

Subs – Rowley (Gk),  Duckworth,  Edwards,  Odelusi,  Skarz,  Leacock-McLeod

H/T Score – 0 - 1  

First Half Comment;

Dons weather a frantic storm from the home side in the opening half and eventually take the lead close to half time from Ben Purrington who smashes home the loose ball on 42mins. Bit of a deflection but he's our sponsored player so I'm giving it to Ben ... now can we hang on?

F/T Score – 1 - 3  

Match Summary;
At least we came out in the second half and were much more positive having taken that lead at the end of the opening half. Look much better going forwards though we didn't extend the lead until Anthony Wordsworth curls home a beauty in the 72nd minute to go two up, 3rd round draw beckons and one more will seal it for sure. 

Cue the 3rd a few minutes later a Mitch Pinnock free kick to Joe Pigott and it's three nil, thanks for coming. Halifax manage a consolation goal but it's scored by Wimbledon's James Hanson from a corner, but surely too late.

My Man of the Match – Mitchell Pinnock.

Referee -- Our referee for this important second round FA Cup tie will be Ben Toner from Lancashire. Has been busy in Leagues One and Two and can occasionally dish out plenty of cards. A penalty for us might be nice for a change.

Attendance – 2,044. 

Next match:
Saturday 8th December vs Rochdale (Home)

League One 3:00pm