AFC Wimbledon 5-0 Ramsgate: Johnnie Jackson’s side cruise into FA Cup third round with emphatic victoryy over non-league opponents after three first-half goals

AFC Wimbledon know a thing or two about cup upsets. Whether it be the 3-2 win over West Ham in 2019 or the more famous 1988 FA Cup victory in the previous formation of the club with the ‘Crazy Gang’, they understand what it is like to be the underdog.

Dons boss Johnnie Jackson will therefore be delighted their clash with eighth tier Ramsgate passed without trouble after a resounding 5-0 win thanks to two Ali Al Hamadi goals and one apiece from Jake Reeves, Josh Neufville and Connor Lemonheigh-Evans.

‘These can be tricky nights but I thought we were really good,’ Jackson said.

Ramsgate – who had a collection of former EFL stalwarts in their side including ex-Man United youngster Lee Martin, a midfielder the Red Devils bought from Wimbledon for £1million aged 16 – were backed by a boisterous travelling support.

They started brightly but were soon behind after Alfie Young gave the ball away as they attempted to play out from the back with Reeves firing home majestically after good work from Al Hamadi.

Ali Al Hamadi scored a brace to send his side into the third round of the FA Cup

Josh Neufville (left) also got on the scoresheet at Plough Lane in an impressive performance

Iraq international Al Hamadi added a second as he nodded home on the rebound after one of several fine stops from Ramsgate keeper Tom Hadler, before Josh Neufville netted a third.

Al Hamadi is one of the stars of the EFL and has a fascinating backstory after his family moved to England when he was just one as they fled the Iraq War. The forward now has 11 goals this season and it is a matter of time until he attracts serious interest from clubs higher in the pyramid.

The minnows – who won six games to get to the second round for the first time in their history – almost had their moment but Dons keeper Alex Bass made a fine stop at point blank range from Tijan Jadama’s header, before the competition’s second top scorer Joe Taylor – on nine goals – could have done better.

Lemonheigh-Evans added a fourth with a fine low strike before Al Hamadi made it five as the Dons showed their ruthless side to book a home tie with Ipswich in round three.

It could have been much worse if it wasn’t for Hadler’s heroics, while Josh Davison also hit the post.

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

‘I’m immensely proud,’ Ramsgate boss Ben Smith said. ‘We’re little old Ramsgate. It’s not about this night. It’s about the journey that’s got us here.’