Well I haven’t done one of these for a while… in fact I haven’t missed a game in a while either. In fact the last away game I didn’t attend was last seasons 0-0 bore draw against St Albans, thanks to a particularly well timed bout of flu. I’ve become pretty good at working my obsession to attend as many Dons games as possible around both my family (I manage to plan visiting family around Dons northern away trips…) and my friends (I have now lost contact with all but two of them… one is in Canada and the other follows a similar lifestyle to mine, just with Manchester United…).
On occasions like Saturday, I find myself backed into a corner. My dad lives in the north, so doesn’t find his way south too often, so it was an obvious decision to blow out the game for this one. I still feel slightly guilty though… like when I used to persuad my mum I was sick, then just bum around the house when I should have been at school… And the person you might expect to have the biggest problem about it, Mrs Anony Don, is actually really supportive (a good attitude that is being rewarded by me taking her camping when I should be at the Tamworth game…).
Now I’ve remembered that I normally start these articles with some random drivel about me, on to some other stories that I may have missed out on over the last couple of weeks. Firstly, there have been some non first team games over the weekend, and I’m glad to say the news is good!
After last Tuesdays goalfest, when they managed to see off Uxbridge 5-1, the Reserves made it two wins out of two at their new home, The Waterside Stadium (home of Walton Casuals, partly improved by the money raised by three competitive fixtures against the Dons back in our CCL days…). This time they saw off Beaconsfield SYCOB Reserves 2-0. Marcus Gayle is getting the most out of our young players – however the question has to be asked how these boys can prove they are worthy of moving up to the first team in such a poor league? Although results are only secondary at that stage of a players development, surely they will be pushing for the title before moving to a more challenging environment next term.
This morning the Under 19s, still in pre-season action, took apart LA FC Academy by three goals to nil. I gather the LA FC Acadamy falls under the umbrella of the Chelsea Acadamy, so when the O/S mentions the game was played away I presume this means Cobham and not California… The Under 18s finished their preseason unbeaten after last Thursdays 1-1 draw with Carshalton, and commence their Ryman Youth League campaign in early September, including an FA Youth Cup tie (presumably at the Meadow) against Kentish Town on the 10th.
Last but certainly not least the Ladies side have started their London & South East Regional League campaign with two wins, after beating Garston Ladies in their first game at their new home at Corinthian Casuals 1-0 they followed up today by brushing aside Madstone United 3-0 away from home. With form like that it won’t be long before glory hunting bloggers like myself jump on the bandwagon and head off down there on a Sunday…
A few articles to come this week. One of them relating to the old polls, and onother introducing a new one on a contentious issue… This won’t get in the way of a full preview of Oxford on Saturday (and doesn’t waiting a week feel a long time? We have been spoiled with the frequency of games so far!)
The Anonymous Don 