Histon 0 v Wimbledon 4
Wimbledon cruised to a 4-0 victory at already-relegated Histon on Saturday (16 April) to mathematically secure their Blue Square Bet play-off place.
And, barring miraculous results elsewhere, the Dons are guaranteed either second or third place, and with it home advantage in the potentially crucial semi-final second leg.
The Dons got off to a flying start in this game, taking the lead through Danny Kedwell after 13 minutes, but victory was sealed by a a lethal five-minute spell in the second-half during which they scored three times.
The game was played in a subdued atmosphere in front of just 750 supporters, the vast majority following Wimbledon, as both teams already knew their fate for the season.
Kaid Mohamed had already missed one golden opportunity to open the scoring before Kedwell made it 1-0, firing home an unstoppable volley after getting on the end of a flicked-on long free-kick.
Two attempted Ricky Wellard through balls failed to find their recipients, and Kedwell was twice thwarted by the offside flag when latching on to Luke Moore passes, but the Dons were held to 1-0 as the half-time whistle went.
But the Dons' goal-mad period just after the hour finally ended any vague notions of an unlikely Histon comeback.
First Mohamed tricked his way into the box before setting up Moore, who netted with a low finish. And then, 40 seconds later, Moore scored again when Histon conceded possession straight from the kick-off and Gregory and Mohamed combined to set up the former Ebbsfleet man who curled the ball home.
And then, again just seconds later, a move involving Sam Hatton and Lee Minshull culminated with Kedwell prodding home from a narrow angle for his 25th goal of the season.
The Dons carried on pressing, with sub Radhid Yussuff and Mohamed having shots charged down, Mohamed seeing one saved, Kedwell being denied by a last-ditch challenge, Christian Jolley hitting the post, and Mohamed having a 25-yard volley that went just wide.
The Dons can now look forward to the play-offs with renewed confidence following their recent upturn in performance. The dates for the first leg have still to be confirmed by the Conference but they are likely to be on either Thursday 5 May or Friday 6 May, followed by the second leg on Tuesday 10 May or Wednesday 11 May.
In the meantime, the Dons face a home game against Mansfield Town on Good Friday (22 April, kick-off 3pm) before travelling to Forest Green Rovers on Bank Holiday Monday (25 April). They round off the league with a home game against Grimsby Town on Saturday 30 April.
Attendance: 750
Histon: Foderingham, Oyebanjo, Okay (Livermore 46), Asafu-Adjaye, Riza, Murray, Sparkes, Cox (Hawkins 46), Mills, Stevenson (Dowie 89), Smith. Subs not used: Lawton, Okojie.
Booked: Smith 72.
Wimbledon: Brown, Hatton, Gwillim, Gregory, Yakubu, Johnson, Minshull (Mulley 68), Wellard (Yussuff 62), Kedwell, Mohamed, L. Moore (Jolley 73). Subs not used: Stuart, Turner.
Goalscorers: Kedwell 13, 67, L. Moore 63, 64.
Booked: Hatton 59.
Referee: Steve Bratt (West Midlands).
Rob Crane
April 16, 2011
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