Anthony Wordsworth enhanced his claims of a first-team return by coming through 55 minutes for our development squad today.
Paul Osew bagged a brace and the other goals came from Michael Folivi and Adam Roscrow in a 4-2 victory against Swindon Town.
In the friendly match at Melksham Town, a strong Wimbledon line-up staged a second-half comeback. With Wordsworth stepping up his return after injury, Osew and Adam Roscrow led a second-half charge to turn a 2-1 deficit at half-time into a 4-2 victory.
Wally Downes travelled with a strong squad and watched on from the stand, as Mark Robinson took charge in the technical area, assisted by Vaughan Ryan.
Anthony Hartigan, Shane McLoughlin, Mitch Pinnock and Michael Folivi also figured in a strong starting line-up for The Dons. Wordsworth started at centre back, a position he had not previously filled before.
Swindon took an early lead after just eight minutes when Jack Rudoni fouled Kaiyne Woolery just inside the area and captain Michael Doughty scored from the spot. Wimbledon recovered well though and following pressure from a Hartigan corner, Folivi levelled on the quarter of the hour mark. The game then took on a competitive edge, but Swindon were kept at bay by good work at the back by Wordsworth's central defensive partner Rudoni. Swindon went back in front nine minutes before the break. Nik Tzanev kept out Woolery's initial effort from close in, but Sidy Sanokho followed up from close range. It was a lead they held at the break.
Wimbledon made a positive start to the second half with David Fisher getting more involved in a succession of attacks from corners. Kyron Stabana worked hard throughout on the right. Roscrow and Paul Osew were key to turning the scoreline around. Seven minutes after the restart, the Welsh forward fired past Steven Benda to level the scores. It needed Tzanev to pull off a great save to keep Wimbledon level, but it was 3-2 to the visitors shortly after the hour mark. This time, Roscrow turned provider, as Osew was urged to make the run and he finished well at the back post.
The Dons pulled further away when Folivi set up Osew for his second, which took a slight deflection as it beat Benda. In the latter stages, Dylan Adjei-Hersey and Jamil Awoyejo were introduced to give them further experience. Midfielders McLoughlin, Hartigan and Pinnock all completed 90 minutes, as they contributed to helping Wimbledon over the line to a deserved victory.
AFC Wimbledon: Tzanev, Stabana, Wordsworth, (Madelin), Rudoni, Osew, Hartigan, McLoughlin, Pinnock, Folivi (Awoyejo), Roscrow, Fisher (Adjei-Hersey).