The FA Trophy has delivered some thrills this season - a home victory over Tonbridge and the penalty drama at Eastleigh - but these pale into insignificance when compared to the 97 minutes of football this tie offered. The travelling Dons faithful made their intentions clear when the first singing started at 2.00 pm to an almost deserted stadium. That set the tone for the afternoon - the fans were simply magnificent, outsinging their hosts throughout the afternoon.

Having learnt lessons from the mauling they received in the first 20 minutes at Exeter, Dave Anderson went in with a flexible 4-5-1/4-3-3 formation. Steve Butler and Antony Howard were the central defenders, with Jermaine Darlington and Simon Sweeney the full-backs. A tight central midfield of Steve Watson, Wes Daly and Chris Gell gave the wide men Lewis Cook and Scott Fitzgerald the licence to get forward to support Roscoe Dsane up front. The system worked well the Dons for the most part and kept Aldershot under control in the early stages.

A Ryan Williams free-kick curled wide of the post was their first real opportunity of any note. Roscoe Dsane returning to his old hunting ground looked like he had the beating of the two Shots centre-halves when he had the ball at his feet. The Dons striker did well to get a shot on target after the home side failed to deal with a ball into the box but from a tight angle Nikki Bull palmed the ball out. Then a long pass from Steve Butler released the Dons striker down the left and he outpaced the Shots defence before going over Ricky Newman's leg and appealing in vain for a penalty.

Aldershot gradually imposed themselves on the game and started to dominate. Forward Jon Grant hit the inside of the post and right-back Curtis Osano should have done better when the ball dropped to him in the penalty area. The goal threatened by the home side eventually came shortly before half time. Williams had a shot blocked by a combination of Little, Gell and Sweeney but when the ball broke to Grant he slammed home to give the Conference side a deserved lead. The Shots then lay siege to the Dons' goal but brave defending saw the visitors make it to the break without conceding further.

Wimbledon started the second half knowing a second goal could kill the tie and Aldershot nearly found it early on. A sweeping move pulled the Dons out of position and Kirk Hudson found himself one on one with Little. His finish wasn't a poor one but the keeper managed to throw himself back and to his right and gather the ball. The Dons were playing well, following instructions to move the ball early and not dwell on it too long as they had in the first half. As the tactics started to work the visitors came into the game. They were unlucky not to equalise when Butler, Watson and Fitzgerald each had efforts cleared off the line in a goalmouth scramble following a corner.

The Dons' equaliser came from Chris Gell on the hour. Sweeney went on a mazy run down the right and fed Dsane and the ball was worked across the Shots' box. Gell was upended but the ball rolled to Cook, whose shot was beaten away but only as far as the now recovered Gell. His vicious drive swerved into the net via the crossbar. The players mobbed the goalscorer, the fans mobbed each other and the Dons were back in the game.

Things got even better five minutes later when a long clearance from Little was flicked on by the tireless Fitzgerald. Dsane picked the ball up, turned, wriggled and got a shot off that was too hot for Bull to hold. Fitzgerald had made up the ground up and beat the defender to the loose ball to poke it home for 2-1 to the Dons. Wimbledon were now rampant, more good play in midfield releasing Dsane whose chip to the far post saw the onrushing Fitzgerald bundled over before he could get his head to it. The on-loan Brentford man then saw a shot deflected inches past the Aldershot goal. The Shots last chance to get anything from the game came when young forward Joel Grant broke free but Little saved once again in a one-on-one situation.

The final whistle went and the team ran to celebrate with the travelling fans. Everyone - fans, players and staff alike - knew they were part of another special day in the Dons' rich history.