AS AFC Wallingford lost at Bedfont, another comfortable but staccato performance took the Dons took within seven points of confirming the title.

Kevin Cooper and Shane Small-King started up front, with Lewis Taylor slotting in at right back for the injured Steve Gibson and Jamie Angell partnering Danny Oakins in the centre of defence as Matt Everard spend the weekend in Barcelona. 47-yead-old Westfield manager John Cassidy repeated his contribution for the away league match by starting himself in the centre of defence.

A nervy opening saw the Dons struggle to find their natural rhythmn. Andy Sullivan went close, but Mark Mercer spurned two good opportunities to fire the hosts into a shock lead. With fluent football not really on the early agenda, it was a moment of individual brilliance that broke the deadlock on 36 minutes. Lewis Taylor laid the ball up to Small-King about 25 yards out. He turned his man and left fly, unleashing a low fixing drive that nestled in the left-hand corner of Robbie Pink's net before the keeper could react. Quite a way to open your Dons account. Ryan Gray fired wide and Seb Favata headed over as the scoreline stayed at 1-0 at half time.

In the second half, Cassidy made way for a younger man and Wimbledon began to create more chances. On 52 minutes, Gavin Bolger sent a Cooper lay-off out wide to Sullivan. His cross eluded everyone at the back post, but Gray whipped it back in and Sullivan arrived to roll it down his chest and tap it home.

Sullivan then broke at pace and pulled the ball back for Bolger. The ball was blocked and fell back to the winger, but his drive was held by Pink. Cooper made way for Jamie Taylor just before the hour mark, then Sullivan saw a first time volley from a Dobinson cross well tipped over by Pink.

Lewis Taylor then put a free header over the bar before Gray produced an extraordinary miss, for which the cliché about it being easier to score certainly applied. Bolger beat his man and strolled along the byline, pulling it back into Gray's path two yards out from an open goal. He slid in but somehow cannoned the ball out at right angles for a throw-in. The normally taciturn midfielder managed a wry smile as "How wide do you want the goal?" rang out from the cavernous stand behind the goal. He then spurned his next chance, firing at Pink.

Simon Bassey came on for Bolger before Gray fired a Taylor pass over and Mercer beat Standen but saw his shot rebound off the post and bounce clear.

Jones Bamfo came on for his traditional ten minute cameo before Jamie Taylor made absolutely certain of the points, cutting inside after good work from Dobinson and Gray and dragging a low shot back across Pink and inside the near post. There was still time for Taylor to beat Pink all ends up, but his effort rebounded off the crossbar.

After this win, if Wallingford drop any more points, the Dons could win the league as early as next Monday by beating Withdean and Walton.

[ --- wimbledonheritage.co.uk]