11:09am Friday 19th March 2010
By Dave Flett
AFC Wimbledon will give a late fitness test to leading scorer Danny Kedwell before travelling north for an overnight stay ahead of tomorrow’s clash at York City. Kedwell, who has netted 22 times for the Dons this season, played with a niggling knee injury and scored during last weekend’s 2-0 home win over Eastbourne because his team were down to the bare bones and only able to name four substitutes.
Had Terry Brown’s men played in midweek, the former Grays forward would have been unlikely to feature but, with a week’s rest, he has been rated “70-30” for the Bootham Crescent encounter.
The Wombles are also hoping to be bolstered by the returns of midfield pair Steven Gregory and Will Hendry, who were both crocked for the Eastbourne match, which saw academy players Jack Stafford and Matt Harmsworth called into action from an understrength bench.
Stafford replaced Kennedy Adjei, who suffered a shoulder injury, but the Ghanaian midfielder has responded well to treatment and should be fit to face the Minstermen.
Left-back Danny Blanchett, meanwhile, has recovered from flu, along with Luke Moore, and is expected to replace Derek Duncan at left-back with Brett Johnson still sidelined.
But midfielder Lewis Taylor will play no part due to cruciate knee ligament damage, while 14-goal forward Jon Main is unlikely to figure again, having missed the last three matches with injury.
Main has fallen behind on-loan Shrewsbury striker Nathan Elder in the pecking order for attacking places in any case.
Wimbledon will travel to North Yorkshire having enjoyed a two-day team-bonding session at Cheltenham Races and the Surrey side have already claimed the scalps of high-flying hosts Luton, Rushden and Kettering on the road this season, while also sharing the spoils during a 0-0 draw at leaders Stevenage in December.
In fact, an away record of eight wins can only be bettered by Kettering (12) and Luton (ten) in the Blue Square Premier.
Brown’s men have been less impressive on their travels in recent times, however, winning just one of their last seven games away from Kingsmeadow.
No side has scored more goals away from home, though, than the 27 Wimbledon have managed from 18 games.
In total, the Dons are the division’s third top scorers on 55 behind Stevenage (63) and Rushden (62) and also boast the fourth-best defensive record with just 29 goals conceded.
Team (probable): Pullen, Conroy, Lorraine, Judge, Blanchett, Hatton, Adjei, Poole, Gregory, Kedwell, Elder.
THIS is AFC Wimbledon’s first visit to Bootham Crescent, but the original Wimbledon club made four trips in Division Four in the late 1970s early 1980s.
The first meeting here was in April 1978 and was drawn 1-1.
The Londoners won on their three subsequent visits – 4-1 in 1978/9, 1-0 in 1980/1 and 4-1 in 1982/3.
The last time the clubs met at York was on October 16, 1982, when Brian Pollard scored the consolation goal.
City’s line-up was: Jones, Evans, Dawson (Busby), Sbragia, Crosby, Hood, Pollard, Ford, Walwyn, Byrne, Laverick.
It was City’s only home defeat of that season.
One player to have represented both clubs in recent years is full-back Peter Hawkins who had a spell on loan with City in 1999/2000.
It happened on March 20
1961: A 2-0 home win over Southport with goals from Norman Wilkinson and Jimmy Weir. The crowd was 6,587 and City were on the fringe of the promotion race in Division Four.
1972: Barry Swallow and Laurie Calloway netted in a 2-0 victory over Rochdale at Bootham Crescent in front of 4,170. City were in the bottom half of the Third Division (League One).
1976: A crowd of 5,740 saw City beat Brian Clough’s Nottingham Forest 3-2 at Bootham Crescent with Brian Pollard (2) and Jim Hinch on the scoresheet. It was City’s third consecutive win but they remained at the foot of Divison Two (Championship).
1999: City lost at home to Wigan Athletic 3-1 with Scott Jordan the scorer. It was the 11th game without a win and they were 19th in the Second Division (League One) and it was Neil Thompson’s first game in charge following the dismissal of Alan Little.
Compiled by David Batters
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