Ed Leach struck an impressive double to help AFC Wimbledon Under-18s to a convincing victory yesterday.
Wimbledon's penultimate Youth Alliance League fixture of the season ended with a 6-0 victory at home to Milton Keynes Dons.
Harry Sidwell, Kelvin Kargbo, Hugo Few, and Jake Lawrence were also on target as Wimbledon made it five league matches unbeaten, confirming second place in the final table after an exciting bid for the title just came up short.
A familiar line-up saw Max Foulkes start in goal, with Ollie Downs, Leo Young, Riley Horan and Mathias Tepe forming the defence. Harry Sidwell, Kai Jennings and Harry Hedges played as a midfield three and striker Tom Wilson was flanked by Ed Leach and Kelvin Kargbo.
The Dons wasted no time getting the goals flowing as the proactive Wilson latched onto a loose ball before laying it off for Leach to strike home within the opening minutes.
Before the first quarter of an hour could be played Leach had doubled his tally for the day. Sidwell led the charge from midfield before playing in the winger, who struck low and hard with his weaker left foot, just beyond the reach of the visiting keeper. Two for Wimbledon - and two for Leach.
The third goal arrived soon before half-time, and it did so in emphatic fashion. An intricate corner routine saw Jennings receive the ball short, before disguising a pass to play Leach in. His cross was met by Sidwell, who powered home before wheeling off in celebration.
Wimbledon started the second-half well, quickly scoring the fourth goal. Hedges drove forwards from deep, evading all surrounding white shirts, before sliding in Kargbo, who composed himself to finish calmly under the onrushing keeper.
With the scoreline looking comfortable, Simon Clark looked to his bench and called upon Hugo Few and Jake Lawrence to replace two of our scorers - Leach and Hedges. Those two substitutes proved to have a real effect on the remainder of the game in scoring a goal each before full-time.
The visitors were reduced to 10 men and Wimbledon took full advantage. Few struck home clinically for number five, before Downs, Kargbo and Wilson linked-up effectively to set-up Lawrence, who completed the scoring to put the icing on the cake.