Pictures and interviews from an epic night
AFC Wimbledon U-18s created club history by making the FA Youth Cup fourth round – and goal hero Alfie Egan said that Thursday’s stadium news inspired glory.
Egan, who headed home a dramatic injury-time equaliser at Vicarage Road, before the Dons eventually won on penalties, has made a habit of netting important goals.
However, this was his most important goal and speaking during an interview for Dons Player, Egan said: “The club got a ‘yes’ for the stadium and we wanted to be the first team to win after that. We did it and hopefully we made the club proud. It was a good ball from the corner, George Marchant got there to flick it back, and I got my head on the ball to guide it into the net.
“I thought from start to finish we were the better side. We went into the game believing that we were the better team. It did not matter that it was against a Premier League club’s academy, we are Wimbledon, and we believed we would get a result.”
to view the interview with WDON commentator Rob Cornell.Cup GloryFull interviews with manager Mark Robinson, Alfie Egan, George Marchant and Emmanuel Mensah featured on Dons Player earlier today. A short interview with Alfie, George and Emmanuel is now on our official You Tube channel. Click on
The young Dons will find out tomorrow night their opponents in the fourth round with Ilkeston and Newcastle still to play a third round tie.
Mark Robinson added that his side’s achievements so far meant everything to the coaching team and his players.
“The passion from the lads is fantastic,” Mark said. “I know everyone says that, but they are proper Wimbledon lads. A lot of them have been at this club for a long time and the ones who haven’t know what it’s all about. There was a lot of emotion in the changing room afterwards. Lads were crying after the win and it was just a fantastic night, not just for the boys. Everyone felt emotional after the stadium news and it was a proud night for us.
“Since the club started again, it was the biggest FA Youth Cup game. We had come close to earning away games at West Ham and Tottenham, but just didn’t make it. We were taking on a club seventh in the Premier League and their Under-18s are top of a league with Crystal Palace, Ipswich and QPR in it.
“It was the manner of our overall performance, which was so high. All you want them to do is show what they are capable of and what they do on the training pitch. We produced some passages of play that were fantastic. Our movement, rotation and combinations were great. I was so proud of the lads, but we have to get back to work and carry on.”
.Match HighlightsIf you haven’t yet watched the best of the action from last Friday’s game, click on
PICTURES: Alan Cozzi/Watford FC, Rob Cornell.