EMIRATES FA CUP - THIRD ROUND - BOREHAM WOOD vs AFC WIMBLEDON [SATURDAY 8th JANUARY]

This weekend the Dons will travel away to Conference Premier side Boreham Wood in the third round of this seasons FA Cup. Today's hosts Boreham Wood set up an FA Cup third-round meeting with AFC Wimbledon as the National League side beat local rivals St Albans City at Meadow Park. 'The Wood' as they are known (apparently) are managed by former Wimbledon player Luke Garrard who has guided them for the past six seasons having been appointed as the youngest boss in the top five leagues in October 2015. They hosts are currently in 4th place on 39 points with a few games in hand and look set for another season of progress and will certainly fancy their chances of an upset at home, with a front pair of Scott Boden and Josh Rees leading the way with 16 goals between them.

FORM GUIDE

(Last 6 matches in respective leagues, starting with most recent)
AFC Wimbledon - LDWDWL
Boreham Wood - DWDWDW

LAST TIME OUT

Oxford United 3 - 0 AFC Wimbledon

Boreham Wood 0 - 0 Barnet

Updates will be published with team news and more as and when it comes through. Wimbledon's recent form is patchy but not helped by a run of cancelled games due to covid in the opposition camps not ours. We are in 18th place in League One on 25 points though now have a number of games in hand over teams above us and might be able to climb a little. Dons Team News - Ayoub Assal is back in contention for Saturday’s Emirates FA Cup third round clash with Boreham Wood at Meadow Park. A positive test for Covid-19 ruled him out of our last League One game at Oxford United, but he returns to the Dons squad for a tricky tie away to the National League high-flyers. Defender Will Nightingale is also back in contention having recovered from his ankle and knee sprains. 

The FA Cup is always a good distraction though and a nice bit of money to be had as long as we can get past tricky opponents today and reach round four. The draw for which will take place on Sunday afternoon it would appear. 

Line Ups (Confirmed);

AFC WIMBLEDON

Win Odds - 13/10 [William Hill]

Tzanev (Gk),  Lawrence,  Heneghan,  Osew,  Guinness-Walker,  Woodyard (c),  Hartigan,  Assal,  McCormick,  🟨Rudoni,  Palmer

SUBS - Oualah (Gk),  Csoka,  Marsh,  Chislett,  Alexander,  Nightingale,  Mebude,  Kaja,  Ablade

BOREHAM WOOD

Win Odds - 2/1 [William Hill] 

Ashby-Hammond (Gk),  Evans,  Stephens,  Fyfield,  Smith,  Mafuta,  Ricketts (c),  Rees,  Mendy,  ⚽🟨Marsh,  Boden 

Subs –  Roach (Gk),  Raymond,  ⚽Clifton,  Comley,  Smith,  Ranger

Selected Bets;

• Over 1.5 goals in first half @2/1.
• AFC Wimbledon to score over 2.5 goals @4/1
• Ben Heneghan to score anytime @10/1

⚽H/T Score – 1 - 0    [Marsh 10']

First Half Comment;

We are underway here at Meadow Park as Wimbledon kick off for this important FA Cup 3rd round affair. Quickly on the offensive and have the first effort towards goal when Paul Osew sends a header wide. Not long before the opening goal and it's the hosts that take the lead, Tyrone Marsh shots high into the top right accurately and the Dons defensive woes continue. Osew has another chance shortly after and Jack Rudoni goes into the referee's book as the Dons struggle in the opening half. Pouring down with rain and that's hardly going to help us, no real chances given the amount of possession we have too. Feeling annoyed, need to come out with a better attitude in the second half.

⚽F/T Score – 2 - 0    [Clifton 86']

Match Summary;

Boreham Wood will feature in the tournament's fourth round for the first time in their history. Marsh opened the scoring in the 10th minute, galloping onto a Josh Rees pass and cutting inside his man before unleashing a ferocious finish beyond Wimbledon goalkeeper Nik Tzanev.  Rees and Marsh both went close to increasing the home side's advantage, but it needed an agile save by Taye Ashby-Hammond, tipping away Jack Rudoni's deflected effort, to ensure they led at the break.

Boreham Wood are yet to concede a goal during their FA Cup run and that record remained intact as the Dons failed to create any other chances of note. At the other end, Tzanev denied Marsh a second, while Gus Mafuta's glancing header flew inches wide. But Montserrat international Clifton wrapped up Wood's victory, heading in Jacob Mendy's cross for his second goal of the season.

My Man of the Match – no one in blue.

Match Officials – Our referee for this afternoon's third round FA Cup tie will be Mr James Bell from Sheffield and a qualified referee since 2006 having been elevated to the National List in the last three seasons. Will have able help on the side lines by assistant referees Ryan Whitaker and Conor Farrell while our fourth official will be Sam Purkiss.

Attendance – 3,501. 

Next league one fixture;
  vs MK Franchise FC (Away)
  Tuesday 11th January @7:45pm