Despite a battling performance, Wimbledon's FA Youth Cup journey came to an end with an extra-time defeat by Leeds United.
A crowd of 1,074 watched our young Dons push a talented Leeds side all the way, before succumbing to a 3-1 loss after an added 30 minutes.
The inclusion of Alfie Bendle, who signed his first professional contract last year boosted the midfield, as he and Morgan Williams controlled the middle.
Aron Sasu (pictured above) was a constant threat to the Leeds defence from the first whistle, as was the electric pace of Tom Wilson.
Wimbledon’s first real chance came when Wilson darted down the wing and pulled the ball back for Reuben Amissah, who hit a tame shot into the arms of Leeds keeper Rory Mahady.
Another cutting run from Wilson split open the Leeds defence and allowed him to play in Sasu, who hit his first-time shot narrowly wide.
The Dons would finally capitalise on the pressure in the 23rd minute when Williams rose highest to beat the Leeds defence and head home.
Simon Clark’s side were unlucky not to score a second moments later when Amissah tested the Leeds keeper after being played in by Wilson's flick, but Sasu could not finish on the rebound.
The visitors hit back just before the half-hour mark when Leeds captain Cian Coleman burst into the box and fired his shot low into the bottom corner.
A solid save from Harry Griffiths stopped United from taking the lead in the final five minutes of the half when he met an onrushing Leeds attacker and got down well as the ball went out for a corner.
We set the pace as the second-half began and were unlucky not to retake the lead when Lock audaciously attempted an overhead kick that flew just over the bar.
Both sides had a chance to nick a late winner before the end of normal time. Firstly, Wimbledon had Jola Lahan to thank for his goal-saving interception in the 86th minute after he expertly anticipated a dangerous Leeds ball into the box just as a United forward was ready to finish off the well-worked move.
Wimbledon would have one last chance after the award of a free-kick in the final minute of injury-time, but Williams couldn’t find a team-mate with his cross and the match went into extra-time.
Two quick-fire goals - scored by Ben Andreucci and substitute Luca Thomas - gave the boys from Yorkshire the advantage in the first couple of minutes of extra-time.
Despite the double blow, our youngsters kept pushing for a route back into the game but were left frustrated as Leeds made sure they were equal to our efforts.
In the second period of extra-time Wimbledon kept knocking on the Leeds door in search of a way back into the game, but the visitors held firm to progress into the fifth round.
AFC Wimbledon: Harry Griffiths, Mathias Tepe, Ibrahim Bangura, Alfie Bendle, Jola Lahan, Leo Young, Aron Sasu, Morgan Williams, Tom Wilson (Harry Sidwell), Paris Lock (Remi Onabanjo), Reuben Amissah (Ed Leach).
Pic credit: Lucy Dixon