The Dons saw off a brief late revival from Ashford of Middlesex to record their second 2-1 victory over the Tangerines this season. In the end it was a header from substitute Paul Barnes that earned the Dons a narrow but deserved win.

With full back Simon Sweeney injured in the pre match warm up, the Dons starting eleven showed only one change from the narrow home defeat to Tonbridge. Steve Wales dropped back to right full back, with Robin Shroot coming in to the side on the right wing.

Playing with two wide players looked an encouraging prospect for the Dons faithful on a bitter November night, but the home side showed little penetration despite some crisp passing early on.

The game struggled into life in the 12th minute when striker Scott Fitzgerald went agonisingly close to opening the scoring. Ashford's O'Sullivan managed only to slice his clearance and Fitzgerald saw his chance as visiting keeper Paul Burgess looked stranded. Somehow though Burgess managed to scramble back to deflect Fitzgerald's lob inches wide.

Little else occured in the opening quarter, as Roscoe Dsane looked most likely to engineer a breakthrough but Burgess was equal to the Dons striker's swift breaks. It was Dsane however who set up the Dons opener in the 19th minute when he deflected Steve Wales' cross into the path of Lee Kersey, who thumped a right foot shot past Burgess from 20 yards.

The goal did settle the home side but despite some better passing football as the half drew to a close, they were unable to add to their lead. The closest they came were two efforts from Fitzgerald that failed to trouble Burgess.

Ashford themselves had shown little invention and been reduced to hopeful potshots from distance. As half time loomed though new Ashford signing Wes Goggin found himself free in the area but could only manage a weak shot that caused Dons keeper Andy Little no alarms.

The visitors opened the second period with more possession but little idea of how to penetrate the Dons rear guard. Instead it was Fitzgerald and Dsane that provided the first real action in the second half when they combined to send in a flicked header that was deflected just wide on 57 minutes.

The second half seemed to deteriorate quickly into a game of midfield head tennis, with Dons captain Steve Watson and midfield colleague Wes Daly battling to contain the Tangerines' 3-5-2 formation. Watson in particular had some success at breaking up Ashford attacks but found few others in a Dons shirt able to break forward with any conviction to try to kill off the game.

Eventually the pace and guile of Paul Barnes was introduced in place of Shroot. With his first touch, the spring heeled striker headed home Jermaine Darlington's pin point free kick and the points looked safe at 2-0 in the 70th minute.

Ashford to their credit did continue to battle gamely despite the Dons looking in comfortable control. Ashford introduced strikers Hamsher and Baxter from the bench - the latter of whom has been in fine scoring form of late.

Hamsher did at least force Little to scramble to cover a deflected shot as the Tangerines looked for late goals - which apparently are their speciality.

Indeed they did eventually notch one, as Hamsher's flick on found Baxter unmarked to scramble a close range shot past Little in the dying moments.

Fortunately for the cold but loyal home support, it was all too little too late and the Dons held on for a valuable three points. On a night when Bromley lost their first league game of the season and as a result slipped to 5th, this victory was vital to keep the Dons in touch with the leading pack.