Two goals from James Tilley sent AFC Wimbledon through to the quarter-finals of the inaugral Bristol Street Motors Trophy with a 2-0 win at the Cherry Red Records Stadium this evening.
Tilley's goals, one in each half, were decisive as a patched-up United side, with Simon Eastwood sent off in the final minute, bowed out of a second cup competion in four days to leave them with just a promising league position to build on this season.
United, resting some players, giving match action to others, started brightly, and impressive home keeper Nik Tzanev had to make a double save when Cameron Brannagan and Mark Harris both bore down on his goal after five minutes. However, that was as good as it got, certainly in the first half, and it was from another of their own attacks that the U's fell behind after 20 minutes.
Harris and Tyler Goodrham were unable to quite force an opening and when the ball broke out of the box, the home side went forward at pace and Tilley carried the ball into the box, ignored two men to his left and fired the ball across the helpless Eastwood for a very well-taken opening goal.
It opened the game up nicely, Wimbledon still dangerous on the break and United dominating possession. Tzanev twice saved from James Henry, and Goodrham saw an effort deflected wide after 35 minutes, but Eastwood made two similar saves from Tilley and Jake Reeves to keep it at 1-0 at the break.
There were changes as United brought on Gatlin O’Donkor, Max Woltman and Marcus McGuane, but after 50 minutes it was 2-0 as Tilley again ploughed down the right, cut past two challenges and thumped the ball past Eastwood for his second of the night.
There was a nice moment when left-back Richard McIntyre was handed a debut at left-back, the latest Academy product to step into the first team and looking comfortable on his first appearance, and United did have moments - McGuane curling a decent effort off target after 68 minutes and Goodrham lively around the box.
However, Tzanev remained largely untroubed and Eastwood's red card for a foul on Pell was the final indignity. Oisin Smyth assumed the gloves with United having used all five subs by then and kept a clean sheet, but that was merely a footnote with the game all but decided by then.
United's Wembley dream ends, in this competition at least, Wimbledon's Wombley dream continues. Good luck to them in Friday night's draw.
United will be in Carlisle by then, ready to resume their league campaign with a more familiar look and hopefully reinforcements as well as injured players returning. No more distractions, just the league table to focus on.
Time to reset and go again...
Att: 1,316 including 201 away
Report by Chris Williams, pictures Steve Edmunds and Rex Shutterstock