AFC Wimbledon 5-0 Ramsgate: Wombles cruise into FA Cup third spherical

AFC Wimbledon know a factor or two about cup upsets. Whether or not it’s the 3-2 win over West Ham in 2019 or the extra well-known 1988 FA Cup victory within the earlier formation of the membership with the ‘Crazy Gang’, they perceive what it’s prefer to be the underdog.

Dons boss Johnnie Jackson will due to this fact be delighted their conflict with eighth tier Ramsgate handed with out hassle after a convincing 5-0 win thanks to 2 Ali Al Hamadi objectives and one apiece from Jake Reeves, Josh Neufville and Connor Lemonheigh-Evans.

‘These could be tough nights however I believed we had been actually good,’ Jackson stated.

Ramsgate – who had a set of former EFL stalwarts of their facet together with ex-Man United teenager Lee Martin, a midfielder the Red Devils purchased from Wimbledon for £1million aged 16 – had been backed by a boisterous travelling help.

They began brightly however had been quickly behind after Alfie Young gave the ball away as they tried to play out from the again with Reeves firing dwelling majestically after good work from Al Hamadi.

AFC Wimbledon netted three first-half strikes to depart Ramsgate with subsequent to no probability of a comeback

Ali Al Hamadi scored a brace to ship his facet into the third spherical of the FA Cup

Josh Neufville (left) additionally acquired on the scoresheet at Plough Lane in a powerful efficiency

Iraq worldwide Al Hamadi added a second as he nodded dwelling on the rebound after one in every of a number of high-quality stops from Ramsgate keeper Tom Hadler, earlier than Josh Neufville netted a 3rd.

Al Hamadi is without doubt one of the stars of the EFL and has an interesting backstory after his household moved to England when he was only one as they fled the Iraq conflict. The ahead now has 11 objectives this season and it’s a matter of time till he attracts severe curiosity from golf equipment increased within the pyramid.

The minnows – who received six video games to get to the second spherical for the primary time of their historical past – virtually had their second however Dons keeper Alex Bass made a high-quality cease at level clean vary from Tijan Jadama’s header, earlier than the competitors’s second high scorer Joe Taylor – on 9 objectives – might have performed higher.

Lemonheigh-Evans added a fourth with a high-quality low strike earlier than Al Hamadi made it 5 because the Dons confirmed their ruthless facet to guide a house tie with Ipswich in spherical three.

It might have been a lot worse if it wasn’t for Hadler’s heroics, whereas Josh Davison additionally hit the submit.

But the 1,400 visiting supporters – double their common dwelling attendance – wouldn’t let the scoreline dampen their spirits as ‘Ramsgate are massive’ continued to reverberate out from the away finish.

‘I’m immensely proud,’ Ramsgate boss Ben Smith stated. ‘We’re little outdated Ramsgate. It’s not about this evening. It’s in regards to the journey that’s acquired us right here.’