The Dons won their first Surrey Senior Cup match since their reincarnation as AFC Wimbledon with a late winner from Ryan Gray.

It was a subdued affair, with both sides seemingly having one eye on this Saturday's league encounter. Terry Eames brought in cup-specialist keeper Matt Martin, Jamie Angell replaced the injured Steve Gibson at right-back and Gavin Bolger partnered Kevin Cooper up front, with Joe Sheerin rested and Paul Scott not fully fit. Andy Sullivan made his return from injury at right-midfield.

Martin was called into action almost immediately as Blason was clean through but the diminutive keeper produced an excellent block with his legs. Not to be outdone, Jez Jukes produced a mirror-image save at the other end as Bolger was set free on a one-on-one by Noel Frankum.

Martin then showed his ability high as well as low, tipping a fierce drive from Short over the bar. He received a late kick for his pains when he went to clear the subsequent corner, although the referee took no action.

Thereafter the Dons spent the first-half laying siege to the Ash goal but could find no way through. A succession of corners came and went with Dons' headers failing to find their target and snapshots blocked. Danny Oakins had one follow-up effort deflected behind and grazed the bar with a volley. He set-up Bolger, who somehow dragged his shot wide.

Good work from Sullivan set up Angell and his good cross deflected off the head of Gray to Michael Harvey, but his shot went very high and very wide.

Ash managed a rare breakaway but Martin was untroubled by an attempted lob. The visitors then finished a needlessly complicated free-kick move by driving well wide.
Finally Cooper broke free and his shot was deflected into Jukes' legs. Bolger was penalised as he jumped for the rebound.

The second-half was more of the same with Martin a virtual spectator, but still the goal wouldn't come. Cooper drove over the bar and Bolger found Jukes' legs again. Cooper finally rounded the keeper on 55 minutes but took too long and his eventual shot was blocked. Sullivan ended a jinking run with a trademark curl wide of the post before Terry Eames replaced Bolger with Scott.

The game seemed to be heading inexorably towards extra-time as Paul Quinn made his first-team competitive debut, replacing the generally quiet Harvey. Cooper pulled the ball back into the box behind Scott, who was unable to dig it out.

Finally, with normal time drawing to a close and only injury time standing between a less than thrilled Kingsmeadow and 30 minutes of further entertainment, Cooper found his way into the box on the left. This time his pass was true and Gray steadied himself before placing a low shot in the bottom-right corner. His enthusiastic celebration contained more than a hint of relief.

In truth, Ash offered little in the second period and once Martin had helped the Dons weather the early storm there was only likely to be one winner, But Terry Eames will have seen enough to know that Ash will present one of the sternest tests to the 100% league record at their place on Saturday.

[ --- wimbledonheritage.co.uk]