AFC Wimbledon scraped into the final of the Surrey Senior Cup with a hard-fought 2-1 win over Ashford Town (Middlesex). But, had the Southern League Division One side shown just a little more quality in the final third, they probably would have taken this match comfortably.

Chris Gell returned to the Dons line up, joining Dean Brennan and Micky Woolner in a three-man midfield. Shane Smeltz was given a start as the lone front man, with Robert Ursell and Dwayne Plummer in support.

On a clear and chilly night Ashford started the brighter, pressing a nervous-looking Dons defence and getting the ball into wide areas where Scott Harris and Scott Todd could take the full backs on at pace.

AFC Wimbledon engineered the earliest chance as Dwayne Plummer was fouled just outside the Ashford box - even Plummer himself seemed surprised at the referee's decision. Nonetheless, Brennan swung the free-kick in and Woolner was just unable to keep his header down.

Moments later, Ashford were given the chance to take the lead from the penalty spot. They worked the ball down the right flank and, when the cross came in Simon Sobihy was adjudged to have hauled down Gavin Smith. Todd made no mistake from the spot kick and the Middlesex side were filled with the belief that they might get one over on their Ryman rivals.

An uncomfortable spell ensued for the Dons, following the substitution of Chris Gell, suffering with a recurring groin problem. Ashford bossed the midfield and pushed the Dons back inside their 18 year box, winning a series of free-kicks and corners. If the match was to be put beyond reach, this would be the time that Town had to do it. But for all their well worked set-pieces the requisite finish never materialized.

Robert Ursell then equalized for the Wombles against the run of play. Picking up a hastily cleared ball from defence he shimmied inside his marker and thumped home from twenty yards.

With confidence flowing back into the front men, Wimbledon had the ball in the net again a few minutes later. Sobihy crossed to Smeltz who laid it back to Woolner. Woolner scuffed his shot and, as Smeltz guided the ball into the net, the linesman flagged to disallow the goal for offside. Just a few minutes remained prior to half-time and the Dons were looking the more likely to find a second goal.

Ashford, to their credit, regrouped at the break and came out looking to stun the Wombles with an early strike. The excellent Todd had a shot deflected for a corner and, once again, Town put together a well-worked series of set pieces that Wimbledon were at sixes-and-sevens to scramble away.

The Dons were forced to defend deep and attack on the counter - a ploy that set up their winner. Wayne Finnie cleared long and the ball came down on Dwayne Plummer's boot. He swept past Jason Chewins and crossed the ball into the Ashford six-yard box. Shane Smeltz was the first to arrive and head past Tony Wells.

Plummer then had the chance to make the game safe, but his close range effort hit the post and ricocheted to safety; while Anthony Howard later missed with the goal gaping after Plummer had engineered a clever cross from the right.

Micky Woolner was carried off on a stretcher late on with suspected medial ligament damage, after a crunching challenge with former Don Lee Passmore. Sonny Farr replaced the midfield man as Wimbledon battled a late onslaught.

Andy Little had to be at his sharpest to keep out Harris after Town had got behind Dave Sargent yet again. The home side were pulling the strings but somehow the Wombles were getting something in the way to prevent a clean strike. At, several points in the second period Wimbledon's penalty area resembled a pinball machine as the ball pinged across the face of goal and back again.

As the game drew to a close Ashford were restricted to a couple of long range efforts that soared over the bar and the referee's whistle was greeted with relief rather than delirium by the Dons supporters.

For Wimbledon this performance was a classic case of grinding out a result when, on the face of it, the opposition were better. There appears to be a nervy edge right now in the ranks, but there's also a lack of intelligence. Wimbledon's weakness is pace. Opponents are wise to this. The team needs to learn how to close down the supply line to quick players like Todd - who are allowed a free role to boss the game - while organizing a defensive strategy that doesn't leave individual (slow) defenders exposed. Backing off indefinitely only concedes more territory and gives the attacker license to keep doing what he's doing. The backline is entirely too deep at set-pieces and the Dons don't push out and press when the ball is cleared, allowing the opposition time and space to run the ball back and cross.

It's great that Wimbledon are in another final, but we should be under no illusions about this game: on another night Ashford Town would have worn their shooting boots and carried out the same demolition job witnessed against Hampton and Richmond last weekend. Fortunately, on this occasion, a combination of poor finishing by the Southern League side and some quality from Ursell, Smeltz and Plummer when it mattered was enough. They'll be lucky if the same can be said again at Billericay on Saturday.