The Dons outplayed their Conference visitors and deservedly secured a 3-0 victory with two first half goals and an injury-time penalty. The star of the show was Robert Ursell, who celebrated his two year deal by netting all three.

The first chance fell to the Dons, and Bolger just drove wide at the far post from a Gray corner. Gray then whipped a freekick in which was headed his own bar by a defender. With the 3-4-2-1 formation in full effect as first seen against Brentford, the Dons took a stranglehold on proceedings and took the lead on 13 minutes.

Ursell capitalised on a mistake at the back as Millard dithered over a Randall through ball, sold him an outrageous dummy, walked round him and rolled it into the net. Palace trialist Jay Conroy then marauded forward and saw a shot blocked. Some good quick play ended in a Taylor cross being blocked. As Gibson whipped the rebound in first time, Bolger?s header saw Millard beaten all ends up but smacked into bar.

On 28 minutes the Dons doubled their advantage with possibly the finest solo goal scored by a Don in pre-season ever. Ursell rolled it past one defender with an outrageous piece of skill, left him for dead, swerved the next challenge to leave another Barnet defender on the floor and curled the ball into the top corner. A staggeringly good goal that justified the entrance fee and more.

Further flowing forward play followed and the pick of the chances came as Taylor ended a pacy break from Ursell, Gray and Graham by seeing a shot blocked. Barnet in return offered little and Wimbledon were more than good value for a two goal half-time lead.

Barnet regrouped at half time, made three substitutions and looked much stronger. But the Dons held firm and defended stoutly to keep the clean sheet. Naisbitt saved well from Roache and dominated his area to claim several crosses. Grazioli entered the arena as Paul Fairclough looked to end the game with a goal, but the closest Barnet went was a free header by Maddix sent over the bar from a corner.

Forced into defensive duties, and with several changes disrupting the game?s rhythmn in the second period, Wimbledon were happy to look to hit the higher ranked side on the break, with Butler foraging hard up front to hold the ball up and bring the breaking midfielders into play.

In injury time Butler tried to twist his marker in the box and was tripped. Birthday boy referee Steven Cook had no hesitation in pointing to the spot. Ursell stepped up and drove it low and into the bottom right corner for his hat-trick, sealing a fantastic personal performance and a sparkling Wimbledon effort.

[ --- wimbledonheritage.co.uk]