A swashbuckling attacking display from the Dons swept Cheltenham Town aside in the Emirates FA Cup.
A performance packed full of impressive forward play secured a 5-1 victory against a League One side - and the scoreline certainly didn't flatter Wimbledon.
James Tilley struck a fine double with the other goals coming from Ali Al-Hamadi, Josh Davison and Connor Evans, Cheltenham simply having no answer to a swaggering attacking performance.
Having suffered two successive league defeats, shipping eight goals in the process, this offered a welcome distraction for Johnnie Jackson’s men - and what a way to bounce back!
It was a much-needed victory that could act as a springboard to revitalise league form that had stuttered in recent weeks after such a bright start to the season.
The Dons made three changes from the side beaten at Morecambe last time out. Alex Pearce, Huseyin Biler, and Connor Evans were recalled in place of Ryan Johnson, Isaac Ogundere, and Josh Neufville - Johnnie Jackson deciding to shuffle his pack a little.
Cheltenham started on the front foot, aiming to build upon their improved form under new manager Darrell Clarke, and the Dons had to maintain a good defensive shape to stop the Robins creating any chances in the first 15 minutes. However, after restricting the visitors to very little, the men in yellow and blue gradually started to warm to their task. Ali Al-Hamadi attempted to spark Wimbledon by holding the ball up well and finding James Tilley in space, but he dragged his shot wide.
There was no reprieve for Cheltenham in the 23rd minute though as the breakthrough came in emphatic fashion. As on so many occasions this season, Omar Bugiel was the foil, heading on unselfishly for his strike partner Al-Hamadi. There was still plenty of work to do when the Iraq international pounced, but he made it look easy by showing the composure to keep the Cheltenham defence at bay, before finishing superbly.
Reinvigorated by the morale-booster of that opening goal, the Dons started to click through the gears, showing the attacking fluency that had been in evidence for much of this season. Armani Little shot just off target with a shot from outside the box and Al-Hamadi almost got in on goal again. Certainly, the Dons home faithful were enjoying watching the first-half as they watched their team play football that was easy on the eye with Jake Reeves and Little combining in the centre of the park well and offering a platform for attacks.
Considering the pattern of this first-half, it was no surprise when Wimbledon struck again – the cushion of a second arriving on the stroke of half-time. This time Connor Evans was the instigator as he picked out James Tilley with a lovely through ball. Our top scorer was at full stretch, but his flick had enough on it to beat Cheltenham keeper Luke Southwood and find the back of the net.
The Dons had certainly been full value for the two-goal half-time lead and more of the same would undoubtedly signal a place in the second round of the famous competition. And there was little danger of a Cheltenham fightback after a whirlwind spell of attacking football from the Dons just after the hour that simply blew the visitors away.
Tilley showed his superb finishing technique once again, making it three with a powerful strike from 25 yards after Cheltenham had only managed to half clear a corner. This had been our best attacking display since Tranmere were swept aside on the final day of September, but there was even better to come. Josh Davidson, who had only entered as a substitute three minutes earlier, fired home from inside the box in the 65th minute after a shot was deflected into his path.
There was simply no respite from Wimbledon as Johnnie’s men poured forward in search of more – and the best goal of the day was still to come. There appeared to be little danger when Connor Evans cut inside from the left, but he unleashed an absolute cracker that Southwood had no chance of saving as it arrowed into the top corner.
Though Robert Street fired home a consolation and Aidan Keena failed to take a penalty chance, it mattered little to the final outcome, and it could have been more as Al-Hamadi and Davison both had goal-bound shots blocked.
There was also still time for teenage talent Kai Jennings to enter the fray for his senior Wimbledon debut, just days after he starred in the FA Youth Cup.
The Dons march on into the second round of the FA Cup and if this is a sign of things to come, we can't wait for Wimbledon's next game in the competition!
AFC Wimbledon: Alex Bass, Huseyin Biler (Isaac Ogundere), Jake Reeves, James Tilley (Kai Jennings), Ali Al-Hamadi, Armani Little (James Ball), Alex Pearce, Omar Bugiel (Josh Davison), Connor Evans (Aron Sasu), Jack Currie, Joe Lewis.