AFC Wimbledon came from behind to win their battle against Hastings in the second round of the Westview Cup.

Dave Anderson gave starting debuts to Casey McLaren and Ryan Watts whilst Robin Shroot sat on the bench alongside youngsters Niall Connery and Steve Goddard. Joe Paris, Wayne Finnie and Darren Grieves were also given starts, with Steve Butler regaining the captain's armband on return from injury.

The Dons provided the first action, Will Toal forced to rush off his line to prevent Richard Butler reaching a ball over the top. Hastings threw the second punch as the ball was quickly transferred to Matt Piper who found himself some space down the right and laid the ball in Sam Adams, who turned quickly but shot wide from the edge of the box.

Both sides were content to roll the ball around, patiently probing for an opening, but both defences were on top of the attack for the best part of the game.

It wasn't until the 19th minute that Wimbledon carved out the next chance, Wes Daly threaded a sweet ball from midfield that cut open the centre of Hastings' defence and Richard Butler ran on, took one touch and guided the ball past Toal, only to see his effort rebound off the post to safety.

The referee then waved advantage after Simon Sobihy's reckless challenge failed to stop Hastings but, after Danny Ellis had shot high and wide, went back and brandished the yellow card.

Darren Grieves was next into the fray, sweeping home Byron Bubb's right sided cross from close range, but the assistant's flag was still up from earlier in the move and the score didn't count.

With half time drawing near, Ellis again made use of space on the wing to collect the ball and run at the defence but, just as he seemed to have carved out an opening, he elected to pass to an offside colleague on the far post.

Wes Daly provided the final action of the half, crashing a free-kick from 30 yards goalwards that bounced awkwardly in front of Toal and bounced to safety off his chest.

There was an evidient urgency as the Dons started the second half kicking towards the Tempest End. Butler and Bubb linked up well with the former's hard work supplying the platform for the latter to beat his marker and whizz a shot in low inside the post, but the keeper got down well.

Hastings weathered the early storm, then took the lead. A free-kick from the right was whipped in and captain Sean Ray got there first to head past Andy Little.

With an hour gone Anderson boosted the midfield, Mark Rooney replacing Joe Paris, who was not having one of his better games, and throwing on Steve Goddard up front in place of Richard Butler. Almost immediaitely Bubb worked his way to the right touchline and skidded in a cross that evaded defenders and attackers alike.

Goddard stung Toal's fingers with a long range drive with 20 minutes to go, and Ryan Watts almost suprised the keeper with a speculative effort from far out on the right wing that hit the side netting. The pressure finally paid off in the 77th minute, Goddard running onto a ball through the centre, out-muscling then out-pacing two defenders before coolly passing the ball past the advancing keeper from 12 yards, followed immediately by most Dons' fans first viewing of his somersault goal celebration.

The Dons continued with the momentum in their favour and struck again five minutes later. Bubb collected the ball on the right of midfield and slung over an early cross that sailed over the Hastings defence and landed perfectly for Darren Grieves to emphatically head the ball over Toal and into the back of the net and register his first goal for the Dons'.

Even then Hastings should have taken the game to extra time, but Russell Eldridge scuffed the ball wide with only Little to beat.

As the final whistle blew a collective cheer of relief blew around the sparce Kingsmeadow crowd - a win edged on chances against a decent side that came to play football.