FA CUP THIRD ROUND -- FLEETWOOD TOWN vs AFC WIMBLEDON SATURDAY 5th JANUARY 2019

The FA Cup comes around in the first weekend of the New Year with the traditional 3rd Round beginning this coming Friday night and the draw has given the Dons another away tie against fellow League One opposition Fleetwood Town. All the big sides are involved and we managed to avoid a big money spinning tie so will have to be on top form to beat Joey Barton's side again having won there on the opening day of this season.

Fleetwood currently sit in 11th place on 34 points after 26 games. How AFC Wimbledon would love to be comfortably mid table! Fleetwood have eased past a couple of non league sides in rounds one and two and will fancy their chances against the Dons even though we have upped out game since Wally Downes arrived.

FORM GUIDE (Last 6 matches in their respective leagues, starting with the most recent result)
      AFC Wimbledon  --  LDWWLD
      Fleetwood Town   --  DLWLWL






LAST TIME OUT (Tuesday)
Portsmouth 2   AFC Wimbledon 1
Shrewsbury Town 0   Fleetwood Town 0

The Dons come into this important FA Cup game on the back of an improved run since the arrival of Wally Downes and coach Glyn Hodges, recent wins have moved us off the bottom of the league and we will hopefully see this continue although a good run in the FA Cup will not go amiss as the money will be useful in January for a few much needed reinforcements. A midweek 2-1 defeat against league leaders Portsmouth on New Years Day means the Dons are now in 23rd place in League One, but performances are improving and this is more our level of opposition so confident of result with a good chance to reach the draw for Round Four for the first time since our reformation? 

Updates will be published with team news and more news as and when it comes through, will see our recent midweek signings make it into the match day squad, new recruits Aaron Ramsdale a goalkeeper on loan from Bournemouth and striker Dylan Connolly who arrives from Dundalk across the Irish Sea so I hope we done our International Clearance papers this time.

Line Ups (Confirmed);

AFC WIMBLEDON

Odds -- 12/5 (Bet365) 

Ramsdale (Gk),  Watson,  Thomas,  Kalambayi  ,  Purrington,  Nightingale (c),  Pinnock,  Hartigan,  Wordsworth  ,  Barcham,  Appiah  

Subs – McDonnell (Gk),  Jervis,  Garratt,  Trotter,  Sibbick,  Wood,  Egan

FLEETWOOD TOWN

Odds -- 6/5 (Betfred) 

Cairns (GK),  Coyle,  Eastham,  Morgan (c)  ,  Wallace,  Hunter,  Marney,  Wallace,  Burns,  Evans,  Madden

Subs – P Jones (Gk),  Holt,  McAleny,  Taylor,  Husband,  Biggins,  Sheron

H/T Score – 0 - 1 [Barcham 16']  

First Half Comment;

Good opening from both sides to begin and with the Dons putting their new loan signing in Goal he's done well so far. Then with a quarter of an hour gone the Dons take the lead with an Andy Barcham turn and volley sending the travelling Womble fans into party mode. Couple of bookings for the Dons too but we've kept them at bay with the first half coming to a close. Good first 45 for the new keeper and this should be a good half time team talk for Wally Downes for a change.

F/T Score – 2 - 3  
[Madden 70', Evans 72'(pen) / Barcham 16', Hartigan 55', Appiah 90']

Match Summary;

When we went two up early in the second half you thought it was easy Anthony Hartigan firing home for the Dons, but two in two mins bundled in from Paddy Madden and then a penalty scored by Ched Evans and we are all square with less than 20 minutes to go. And after a spell of pressure we win it with a fine goal from Kwesi Appiah in the 90th minute and off to the 4th round we go.

My Man of the Match – Aaron Ramsdale (Dons) good debut by our new on loan keeper wasn't to be faulted for their goals, and did plenty in this to suggest he'll be an asset in our fight against the drop.

Referee -- Our referee for this important third round FA Cup tie will be Ross Joyce from Cleveland an experienced referee for over 10 years generally gets league one and two matches and has been a little card happy in the cup ties recently. Wouldn't rule out a red card here, might have to back the card market if we can.

Attendance – 2,131 

Next match:
Saturday 12th January vs Coventry City (Away)

League One 3:00pm 

CHELTENHAM NH MEETING -- NEW YEARS DAY 2019

Welcome to 2019, Happy New Year to you all.

We kick off the new year with the traditional New Year January 1st meeting at Cheltenham, which will be the broadcast live on ITV once again so if it's cold out and you cannot get there, stay in the warm, finish off the last of the Christmas booze and chocolates and enjoy the jumpers in action. We have about ten weeks till the Cheltenham festival in March so each meeting should have it's own clues to the future, maybe not so much the big races but the handicaps will certainly attract plenty of interest.

Today it's a 7 race card, the feature events are a pair of Grade 2 contests, the Dipper Novices Chase and the Relkeel Hurdle which are both run over 2m 4f. 

Going -- Good to Soft.
Here are our selections for the New Year Day card;

12:15 -- 2m 4f 56y Novice Hurdle (Listed).
Happy New Year and we start the season at Cheltenham with a listed hurdle for novices, a field of 8 declared and headed by COOLANLY from the Fergal O'Brien yard who will have to concede 5lb in weight to his opponents today. 

ANEMOI has won a couple of hurdle contests at Ascot and Doncaster and will fancy his chances of a hat trick here along with I CAN'T EXPLAIN a winner at Sandown so this uphill finish shouldn't be an issue.

Result:
1.  JARVEYS PLATE   12/1
2.  I CAN'T EXPLAIN   5/6F
3.  ANEMOI   9/2  

12:50 -- 3m 2f 70y Handicap Chase.
A field of ten are declared for the handicap chase next, all could have a chance if they stand up and should ensure a true run race. Joint top weights BEWARE THE BEAR and RONINSFIRTH the latter is a course and distance winner here a month ago and should be able to shoulder the weight too. SOME CHAOS should continue to improve for the step up in trip and is considered the biggest danger in the field.

Result:
1.  BEWARE THE BEAR   7/2
2.  SHANROE SANTOS   10/1
3.  PERFECT CANDIDATE   16/1

YANWORTH WINNING THE 2018 DIPPER CHASE

13:25 -- 2m 4f 127y "The Dipper" Novices Chase (Grade 2).

As expected it's a small field for the first of our Grade 2 races, the novices go chasing and each of the quintet have a chance if their jumping holds up. DEFI DU SEUIL gives his opponents 3lb for his win at Exeter last time out, shouldn't be an issue though the inexperience might be a problem for BLACK OP who was 3rd in that event and I don't see him overturning that form this quickly. 

CRUCIAL ROLE [Non Runner] won a beginners chase last month but might be better over further in time while LOSTINTRANSLATION looks one paced and the hill should be a problem even if he jumps the last ahead. Leaving ON THE BLIND SIDE as the big danger a multiple hurdle winner at good tracks should be ready to go on debut and it's noted that his yard go straight to a Grade 2 contest and not give him an easier novice chase to start off with.

Result:
1.  LOSTINTRANSLATION   3/1
2.  DEFI DU SEUIL    5/2

14:00 -- 2m 4f 127y Handicap Chase (Grade 3).
Tricky chase follows next, of the nine declared not many you can discount although top weight ASO looks unlikely to win here having tried around Cheltenham five times before now and failed to trouble the judge each time, might be best on tracks like Newbury where we won last time out. WON .. what do I know !! 

I'll take the paid of GIVE ME A COPPER and BORN SURVIVOR against the field today the former should go well for the inform Paul Nicholls yard and will give young Harry Cobden another good ride. Born Survivor looks a safe jumper for the Skelton team and likes to lead so should be up front making it a good test. Decent bet to place at least for that one.

Result:
1.  ASO   3/1F
2.  HAPPY DIVA   8/1
3.  BALLYHILL   7/1

14:35 -- 2m 7f 213y Handicap Hurdle.
A staying handicap hurdle now and a field of 14 line up so should be fast and furious even though the emphasis on stamina VIVE LE ROI is in good form winning three of his last four outings and regularly in the frame too should be popular. Both SHALAKAR and LORD DU MESNIL are a pair that should also appreciate the trip and the going, looks a cracking race to enjoy.

Result:
1.  AUX PTITS SOINS   5/1F
2.  DE NAME EVADES ME    11/2
3.  THE EAGLE HAS LANDED   12/1

15:10 -- 2m 4f 56y Relkeel Hurdle (Grade 2).
Certainly nothing of the quality of Relkeel here but will be interesting enough with another good field lined up although only the six runners. MIDNIGHT SHADOW has been running with great credit and is certainly worth his place in this field, OLD GUARD is a grand servant but probably not good enough here while CLYNE was a good runner up to Unowhatimeanharry at Newbury last time and should be thereabouts again. 

Unusual that Nicky Henderson sends THOMAS CAMPBELL back to hurdles having been novice chasing if fully wound up this might be a good call and it's that one and Clyne who I will pair as the forecast bet. 

Result:
1.  MIDNIGHT SHADOW   8/1
2.  WHOLESTONE   6/4F

15:50 -- 1m 5f 209y Open NH Flat Race.
Concluding with a bumper, a decent one for it's level but hardly anything to go on so just reputation and yards I guess, all three year olds, should do better in time. I'll side with the bottom one RIPPLET this filly easily accounted for her opponents at Exeter and the weight allowance will also be in her favour. Not a race for me to be too involved with though.

Result:
1.  GLORY AND FORTUNE   7/2
2.  CASCOVA    3/1
3.  BOOK OF INVASIONS   15/2

Results will be updated here later today, and the rest of the New Year fixtures will feature events from Kempton Park on Wednesday nights as well as all the cards at Pontefract on the flat, and the bigger 2019 Festivals from Cheltenham, Aintree, Royal Ascot, Glorious Goodwood and Galway amongst may others. Have fun this year.

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU ALL 2019

So farewell to 2018 and welcome in 2019. 

May it be a year of fun, excitement, love and happiness for you all whatever you have planned. Last year wasn't the best for me personally, plenty happened work and home, but we still standing and it's time to look forward once again. Not making silly resolutions this year but I do want to carry on and improve my life, so will still be writing regularly on different topics as I find this helps me deal with things. Shall carry on with the horse racing and look forward to going to Ascot and Sandown later in the year, there is still the football and hopeful that AFC Wimbledon can survive a relegation battle this season together with the great news of the return to Plough Lane and a new stadium now moving ever closer to realisation. 

Planning a few trips away this year, ideally to Swanage, possibly Isle of Wight and Isle of Man too, first though I need to see what is happening at work and I really do fancy a change of scene and lessen my commute would be nice too. 

So whatever plans you make this year hope they are exciting and trouble free. Be well, have fun. 

Hope you enjoy a wonderful 2019.