Terry Brown

League Two: AFC Wimbledon 4-0 Burton Albion

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AFC Wimbledon have surely now secured a spot in the Football League for next season after a superb result against fellow strugglers Burton.

The visitors, who are in freefall after eight straight defeats, were well in the game until three late goals killed off any hopes of nicking a point. Incredibly, the clean sheet kept by home keeper Seb Brown was the first at home all season.

Despite a rasping drive from Burton’s Adam Bolder hitting the crossbar after 35 seconds, Wimbledon started brightly and were soon in front. Some clever build-up play in the ninth minute from on-loan West Ham player George Moncur led to Luke Moore having a one on one chance which he cooly converted under away keeper Ross Atkins.

Yet Burton were well in the game, only a minute later some dreadful Dons defending allowed Greg Pearson a clear shot on goal - but he hit the ball straight at Brown.

In a first half played at a tempo that matched the soaring temperatures at Kingsmeadow, the sides exchanged numerous chances, the best of which saw Atkins do well to tip away a Midson shot. At the other end, the Dons needed some last ditch defending from Pim Balkestein to deny Burton’s Justin Richards on more than one occasion.

Burton were desperate to equalise early in the second half and dominated the first 25 minutes. Yet the Dons resolute defence held out, and the visitors were restricted to a few half chances from Lionel Ainsworth and sub Jimmy Phillips.

The Dons made the game safe 15 minutes from time when an excellent run from sub Byron Harrison saw the Wimbledon record signing lay the ball unselfishly off to Midson on the left. His shot was parried by Atkins, but Moncur came steaming through to finish low and hard from a tight angle.

Wimbledon had chances to get a third, but they had to wait until the 90th minute. A Dons corner was missed by keeper Atkins, and a Burton deflection led to Harrison getting his first Wimbledon goal from one yard out.

Three soon became four, deep into injury time Ricky Wellard’s ball on the right side was turned back to Sammy Moore, who chipped the ball over Atkins.

The Dons can surely now relax, being just one win away from the magical 50 point mark.

AFC Wimbledon: Brown, Hatton, Mitchel-King, Balkestein, Gwillim, Jolley, S Moore, Knott (Harrison), Moncur, Midson, L Moore (Wellard)

Attendance: 3,819

My man of the match: George Moncur