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Friday, 11 January 2008, 09:52 GMT

Wimbledon chase FA Trophy dream

By Pete Oliver

AFC Wimbledon boss Terry Brown AFC Wimbledon manager Terry Brown believes his side can continue their pursuit of a league and cup double by chasing promotion and the FA Trophy.

The Dons have moved into a challenging position in the Ryman Premier Division.

And on Saturday they face a last-32 clash at league rivals Tonbridge Angels in the Trophy, with Brown setting his sights on further progress.

He told BBC Sport: "At the start of the season the priority was promotion, followed closely by the FA Cup and the FA Trophy. They were the three things we targeted.

"Ryman League clubs have not only got to the Trophy final before but have won it.

"We have a side that is more than capable of holding its own against Conference teams and our aim is to get to the last 16 if we can."

Wimbledon and Tonbridge are the two lowest-ranked sides left in the competition with the Angels currently struggling near the foot of the Ryman Premier table.

However, despite Wimbledon's run of seven wins in their last eight games, Brown is taking nothing for granted, having drawn away at the Kent club in their last meeting in November.

He added: "They have had a very good run in the Trophy, especially beating Oxford in the last round, so it should be a really exciting game."

Wimbledon will include a Trophy winner from last season in their side in ex-Stevenage midfielder Mark Beard, while striker Mark DeBolla was with Grays Athletic when they won the competition in 2006.

Their squad also contains a number of other players with Conference experience with Brown, who took charge at the start of the season, confident that their best is yet to come as he looks to lead the club, which was formed in 2002 following Wimbledon FC's move to Milton Keynes, back up the league ladder.

"We had a very slow start and really in the last couple of months there has been no margin for error. There still isn't," added the former Aldershot boss.

"Our aim was to win the championship if we could. We need to win our games in hand and beat Chelmsford at some time, which is more than possible.

"We have a supporter base that could carry us through to the Football League. Now I just have to get a team to match those ambitions."

And Brown believes that although the likes of Torquay and Aldershot may have split priorities as they pursue promotion to League Two, the lure of a Wembley final makes the Trophy an attractive proposition for the remaining 32 clubs.

FA Trophy: Full second-round fixtures



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Related to this story:

FA Trophy second round news (11 Jan 08 |  Non League )
FA Trophy first round - review (08 Jan 08 |  Non League )
Gayle praised as Dons go through (16 Dec 07 |  Non League )
AFC Wimbledon bag Fleet's DeBolla (19 Oct 07 |  Non League )
Merton given back Dons trophies (02 Aug 07 |  Milton Keynes )
Dons are expelled from FA Trophy (26 Jan 07 |  Non League )

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