Stevenage beat AFC Wimbledon to reach the League Cup second round.

The hosts went ahead when Dons defender Pim Balkestein turned Luke Freeman's cross into his own net.

Wimbledon goalkeeper Seb Brown's air kick from Mat Mitchell-King's looping back pass enabled James Dunne to score into an empty net for 2-0.

Luke Moore set up Brendan Kiernan to close the gap, but Stevenage's two-goal advantage was restored as Mark Roberts followed up Marcus Haber's header.

VIEWS FROM THE DRESSING ROOM

Stevenage manager Gary Smith told BBC Three Counties Radio:

"We're all encouraged by the way the game unfolded.

"Of course, if you get off to a good start and score early, it gives everybody a bit of a lift and I thought we were worthy of the two-goal buffer by half-time.

"There was a little spell in the second half where we just lost control of midfield - maybe there was a little fatigue, maybe a little complacency - but there are a lot of new faces in this group and I think the signs are very good.

"There's an awful lot of work to keep reinforcing and to emulate that at the weekend is going be our focus when we get back on the training field."

Lineup, Bookings (3) & Substitutions (5)

Stevenage

  • 16 Day
  • 02 Gray
  • 04 Charles
  • 14 Roberts
  • 29 Ngala
  • 06 Tansey (Shroot - 70' )
  • 07 Grant
  • 08 Dunne
  • 10 Morais Booked (Akins - 71' )
  • 09 Haber (Thalassitis - 89' )
  • 15 Freeman

Substitutes

  • 01 Arnold
  • 05 Ashton
  • 12 Furlonge
  • 19 Thalassitis
  • 32 Shroot
  • 11 Akins

AFC Wimbledon

  • 01 Brown
  • 03 Cummings
  • 05 Balkestein
  • 06 Mitchell-King
  • 16 MacDonald Booked
  • 07 Long
  • 08 S Moore Booked
  • 12 Jolley (Harris - 58' )
  • 18 Kiernan (Harrison - 79' )
  • 10 Midson
  • 11 L Moore

Substitutes

  • 33 Jaimez-Ruiz
  • 04 Harris
  • 15 Fenlon
  • 21 Strutton
  • 20 Merrifield
  • 23 Yussuff
  • 09 Harrison
Ref: Attwell
Att: 2,018

Match Stats

Shots

14 6

On target

6 3

Corners

6 3

Fouls

9 8

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +3:47 Full time

Full Time The final whistle goes and the game is over.

90:00 +0:20

Luke Freeman delivers the ball, Headed effort from inside the area by Michael Thalassitis misses to the right of the goal.

89:50

The ball is delivered by Lucas Akins, Pim Balkestein makes a clearance.

89:27

A cross is delivered by Luke Freeman, Mat Mitchel-King manages to make a clearance.

88:30 Substitution

Substitution Michael Thalassitis replaces Marcus Haber.

87:39

Jack Midson delivers the ball, Louis Harris takes a shot. Save by Chris Day.

86:13

Byron Harrison is ruled offside. Chris Day takes the indirect free kick.

85:38

Louis Harris takes a shot. Chris Day makes a save.

84:04

Foul by Angus MacDonald on Luke Freeman, free kick awarded. Luke Freeman takes the direct free kick.

81:45

Centre by Jack Midson, clearance made by David Gray. Corner taken by Jack Midson, clearance made by Mark Roberts.

78:46 Substitution

Substitution Byron Harrison on for Brendan Kiernan.

75:20

Effort from just outside the box by Louis Harris goes over the bar.

74:46

Corner taken right-footed by Brendan Kiernan, clearance made by Bondz N'Gala.

74:28

Free kick awarded for a foul by Anthony Grant on Brendan Kiernan. Free kick taken by Brendan Kiernan.

74:03

Shot from deep inside the area by Luke Freeman clears the bar.

72:35

Luke Freeman takes a shot. Save made by Seb Brown. Corner from the right by-line taken by Robin Shroot, clearance made by Mat Mitchel-King. Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Luke Freeman, Close range headed effort by Bondz N'Gala goes wide of the left-hand upright.

69:32

Chris Day takes the indirect free kick.

69:32 Substitution

Substitution Lucas Akins on for Filipe Morais.

69:32 Substitution

Substitution Robin Shroot joins the action as a substitute, replacing Greg Tansey.

69:32

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Mark Roberts by Jack Midson.

68:31

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Anthony Grant by Brendan Kiernan. Darius Charles restarts play with the free kick.

65:20

Brendan Kiernan has an effort at goal from outside the area which goes wide left of the target.

62:26

Shot from just outside the area by Luke Freeman goes over the bar.

60:20

A cross is delivered by Angus MacDonald, save made by Chris Day.

59:07

Short corner worked by Luke Freeman. Luke Freeman crosses the ball, Darius Charles takes a shot. Save by Seb Brown.

57:40

Corner taken by Brendan Kiernan from the right by-line.

57:40 Substitution

Substitution Christian Jolley goes off and Louis Harris comes on.

57:05

Jack Midson produces a cross, clearance made by Darius Charles.

54:01

Filipe Morais produces a right-footed shot from just outside the area that goes wide left of the goal.

53:18

Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Luke Freeman from the right by-line, Angus MacDonald manages to make a clearance.

49:46

Seb Brown restarts play with the free kick.

49:46 Booking

Booking Filipe Morais goes into the referee's book.

48:35

Long distance shot from Greg Tansey misses to the left of the target. Filipe Morais concedes a free kick for a foul on Mat Mitchel-King.

46:28

Corner taken right-footed by Filipe Morais from the left by-line to the near post, Jack Midson manages to make a clearance.

45:01

The match restarts for the second half.

40:53

Luke Moore provided the assist for the goal.

40:53 Goal scored

Goal - Brendan Kiernan - Stevenage 2 - 1 Wimbledon Brendan Kiernan scores a goal from inside the penalty box to the top left corner of the goal. Stevenage 2-1 AFC Wimbledon.

45:00 +3:37 Half time

Half Time The referee blows for half time.

45:00 +1:53

Assist by Marcus Haber.

45:00 +1:53 Goal scored

Goal - Mark Roberts - Stevenage 3 - 1 Wimbledon Mark Roberts fires in a goal from close in to the bottom left corner of the goal. Stevenage 3-1 AFC Wimbledon.

45:00 +0:13

Filipe Morais produces a cross,

45:00 +0:13 Booking

Booking Angus MacDonald is cautioned.

45:00

Angus MacDonald challenges Filipe Morais unfairly and gives away a free kick.

43:08

Corner taken by Filipe Morais.

40:53

Assist on the goal came from Luke Moore.

40:53 Goal scored

Goal - Jack Midson - Stevenage 2 - 1 Wimbledon Jack Midson finds the back of the net with a goal from inside the penalty box to the top left corner of the goal. Stevenage 2-1 AFC Wimbledon.

40:13

The ball is swung over by Luke Moore,

39:15 Booking

Booking Caution for Sammy Moore.

39:05

Foul by Sammy Moore on Greg Tansey, free kick awarded. Anthony Grant restarts play with the free kick.

37:50 Goal scored

Goal - James Dunne - Stevenage 2 - 0 Wimbledon James Dunne gets on the score sheet with a goal from inside the box low into the middle of the goal. Stevenage 2-0 AFC Wimbledon.

36:30

Foul by Greg Tansey on Sammy Moore, free kick awarded. Warren Cummings restarts play with the free kick.

35:33

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Sammy Moore by Luke Freeman. Angus MacDonald restarts play with the free kick.

34:44

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Greg Tansey by Stacy Long. Luke Freeman takes the free kick.

32:27

A cross is delivered by Luke Freeman, Marcus Haber takes a shot. Seb Brown makes a save.

31:57

Free kick awarded for a foul by Greg Tansey on Stacy Long. Sammy Moore takes the free kick.

29:52

Unfair challenge on Stacy Long by Filipe Morais results in a free kick. Stacy Long takes the free kick.

27:57

Unfair challenge on Angus MacDonald by Marcus Haber results in a free kick. Stacy Long crosses the ball from the free kick right-footed from left channel, Anthony Grant manages to make a clearance.

26:11

The ball is sent over by Luke Freeman, Mat Mitchel-King makes a clearance. Greg Tansey crosses the ball, save by Seb Brown.

23:28

The ball is sent over by Christian Jolley, Header on goal by Mat Mitchel-King from inside the box goes harmlessly over the target. Unfair challenge on Sammy Moore by Greg Tansey results in a free kick. Sammy Moore takes the free kick.

22:35

Marcus Haber produces a cross, save made by Seb Brown. Foul by Bondz N'Gala on Jack Midson, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by Stacy Long.

19:47

A cross is delivered by Darius Charles, clearance made by Mat Mitchel-King.

19:20

Centre by David Gray, clearance made by Pim Balkestein.

16:10

Luke Freeman produces a cross, Marcus Haber has a headed effort from close range and clears the bar.

13:23

Luke Freeman provided the assist for the goal.

13:23 Goal scored

Goal - Pim Balkestein - Stevenage 1 - 0 Wimbledon Pim Balkestein puts the ball into his own net from 6 yards. Stevenage 1-0 AFC Wimbledon.

12:26

Centre by David Gray, Mat Mitchel-King manages to make a clearance.

11:53

Marcus Haber fouled by Mat Mitchel-King, the ref awards a free kick. Filipe Morais takes the free kick.

10:52

The referee blows for offside. Indirect free kick taken by Pim Balkestein.

9:39

James Dunne takes a shot. Save by Seb Brown.

8:41

Sammy Moore concedes a free kick for a foul on Anthony Grant. Filipe Morais takes the free kick.

7:45

David Gray delivers the ball.

6:42

A cross is delivered by Luke Freeman.

4:58

The ball is swung over by Jack Midson, David Gray manages to make a clearance.

3:42

Shot by Luke Freeman from outside the box goes high over the target.

1:50

Centre by Filipe Morais, blocked by Angus MacDonald.

0:00

The referee gets the game underway.

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