Youthful flair just about saw our side past a determined Swindon Town as we moved into the third round of the FA Youth Cup.
Simon Clark’s team eventually triumphed against the Robins on a bitter and extremely wet evening at Plough Lane after initially taking a 3-0 lead before half-time.
Jola Lahan, Paris Lock and Aron Sasu all got on the scoresheet as we appeared to be in cruise control, however it was the visitors who reduced the deficit largely against the run of play.
Nevertheless our side held their nerve and were rewarded for a good foray forward when the referee awarded a penalty kick in the final minute of normal time that Morgan Williams confidently dispatched.
We will now be waiting eagerly for the results of the draw for the next round as the so-called ‘big boys’ enter the competition.
Lock came in for Reuben Amissah in what was the only change to the side which beat Lewes 5-0 in the first round.
In an opening phase, Abu Kanu missed a glaring opportunity for Swindon after a mix-up between our backline and keeper Harry Griffiths. We then jerked into life and notched our first goal of the tie around the 15-minute mark as Lahan scrambled home from close range following a free-kick.
It was then 2-0 as Lock plucked the ball out of the air and showed some lovely touches before firing home into the far corner.
And our young side weren’t done there as Sasu got his name onto the scoresheet after turning on the afterburners to get away from the full-back and fire a cracker into the far corner.
In the second-half, the Dons had to really battle the elements and face up against a spirited opposition who clearly had had some feathers ruffled during their half-time team talk.
The rejuvenated visitors were first awarded a penalty for an apparent handball. The spot-kick was then duly dispatched by their captain to reduce the deficit.
Swindon then reduced the deficit further after another defence mix-up, which was this time punished by Hamilton, who stroked the ball into an empty net.
Despite this, the Dons remained level-headed and saw the game through thanks to Williams’ spotkick as the board form added time was shown.
AFC Wimbledon: Harry Griffiths; Ibrahim Bangura, Jola Lahan, Remi Onabanjo (Sean Sankanu), Paris Lock (Ed Leach), Morgan Williams, Aron Sasu, Leo Young, Harry Sidwell, Tom Wilson (Ollie Downs), Mathias Tepe
PICS: Lucy Dixon