The Dons delighted their large travelling support to see the New Year in with some style, comprehensively beating play off rivals Staines Town at Wheatsheaf Park.

Following the victory over Walton & Hersham on Boxing Day, Dave Anderson was forced to replace the suspended pair of Wes Daly and Michael Harvey. Barry Moore and Dwayne Plummer came into a rejigged midfield, with Rob Ursell switching to the left flank in a 4-4-2 formation.

Staines came into the game on a run of good form and looked promising in the early exchanges, with Jamie Guy prominent on their left. However it was the Dons who took an early lead with virtually their first attack in the 9th minute.

Ursell pitched up the ball some 25 yards out on the left and little looked likely to happen. Seconds later though the ball was nestling in the net behind home keeper Shaun Allaway as Ursell unleashed a wonderful right footed strike that arrowed into the top corner.

This setback understandably rattled Staines into action and they soon forced Andy Little to save well from Guy as well as from winger Darren Campbell.

It was the Dons' classic counter acting play that almost paid further dividends though soon after. On 20 minutes Shane Smeltz looked odds on to score when he latched on Richard Butler's pass. Allaway managed to just about clear the Kiwi's shot, with some defensive assistance, before Wayne Finnie's header from the resultant corner hit Butler on the goal line, when it looked to have beaten the keeper.

As the half wore on, the Dons were happy to defend in numbers and didn't looked too troubled, despite the home side having plenty of possession. Indeed the most notable incident occurred shortly before half time when Barry Moore went down in an off the ball incident. Moore and Staines' Fiston Manuella both received a lecture from referee Mark Lever, without any cards being shown.

Staines did sprung out of the blocks in the second period and almost immediately equalise. Guy again showed his pace on the left and when his cross eventually found Andre de Lisser, the midfielder's shot was well parried by Little diving full length to his right.

The incident that settled the game in the Dons favour occurred on 51 minutes. Another excellent counter attack saw a Plummer cross reach Ursell in the area. He set up Smeltz with the keeper stranded, only for the Kiwi's effort to be parried two handed by defender Danny Gordon. A penalty was awarded and after lengthy consultation between referee and linesman, Gordon received an inevitable red card. Dave Sargent continued his 100% record from the spot to give the Dons a 2-0 lead with more than 35 minutes left.

With only 10 men Staines began to lose their shape and when Anderson countered their tactical switch by pushing striker Mark Peters into the fray, more goals were inevitable.

The clinching third goal game on 61 minutes when Smeltz's header found Richard Butler clear on goal. He strugged off the last defender to lash the ball in for 3-0.

After that it was a rather quiet close to the game with Staines gamely throwing men forward without any great plan of attack. The Dons were happy to see the game out with some crisp passing and even a little show boating through midfield.

In the end it was a surprisingly easy and emphatic victory over one of our main rivals, to really establish the Dons as bonafide promotion candidates.