Scorers : John Hartson 0-1 (9 mins),
Jason Eaton 1-1 (32 mins),
Robbie Earle 1-2 (67 mins),
Carl Cort 1-3 (75 mins),
John Hartson 1-4 (80 mins),
Adrian Foster 2-4 (86 mins)

Attendance : 1620

As on Monday night against Gillingham, Yeovil had slightly the better of the first 45 minutes against their Premiership opponents. Terry Skiverton came close for Yeovil in the 7th minute with a hooked shot over his shoulder following a corner, but it was Wimbledon who opened the scoring against the early run of play. Welsh international John Hartson found himself in acres of space on the edge of the Yeovil penalty area (looking suspiciously offside it has to be said) on the end of a trademark long-ball. HARTSON showed why Wimbledon paid £7 million for him by clinically finishing past Tony Pennock.

That goal set the pattern of the first half. Yeovil were having plenty of possession and putting together some good moves while Wimbledon were content to soak up the pressure and play the long ball. Yeovil's persistence eventually paid off - Matt Hayfield spotted Jason Eaton's run from deep and played a perfectly timed ball that bisected the flat Wimbledon defence. EATON showed why Yeovil paid £15,000 for him (!) by clinically finishing past the Wimbledon keeper. David Piper replaced Terry Skiverton just before the break - it looked as if the defender was nursing an injury. 1-1 at half time.

Ben Smith, Adrian Foster and Paul Steele came on for Yeovil after the break, replacing Simpson, Eaton and Chandler respectively. Wimbledon began to up the pace of the game and started to show exactly why they've been in the Premiership all these years. Robbie Earle showed his class with a lovely turn and shot which Pennock did brilliantly to save, but the Jamaican international wasn't to be denied a second time. EARLE made it 2-1 after the now familiar long ball from defence found him in space in the penalty area - a player of his class doesn't miss those kind of opportunities.

By now Carl Cort and Marcus Gayle were causing havoc in the Yeovil defence with their powerful running and John Hartson was winning everything in the air. Yeovil forced a corner in the 75th minute and 20 seconds later Wimbledon had made it 3-1, Carl CORT receiving the inevitable long ball from the back and finishing superbly. Tony Pennock was performing heroics in the Yeovil goal, making save after save, but he could do nothing when a mistake in the Yeovil defence let John HARTSON in at the back post to make it 4-1. Yeovil were still playing some neat football in the face of the Wimbledon barrage and in the 86th minute got some consolation when after a powerful run Adrian FOSTER shot from an acute angle on the right, the ball hitting the back of the net after taking a wicked deflection off a Wimbledon defender.

Plus points for Yeovil: Phil Simpson looked much sharper for the 45 minutes he played tonight, and was rather more effective than his 2nd half replacement Ben Smith. Matt Hayfield was again on good form, and the running of both Jason Eaton in the first half and Adrian Foster in the second bodes well for the coming season. Apart from the disputed first goal, Terry Skiverton kept John Hartson well in check in the first half, unfortunately Paul Steele didn't find life quite so easy in the second. Jamie Pitman had a very solid game deputising for Murray Fishlock; and Tony Pennock, despite letting in four, had an excellent match. A thoroughly entertaining 90 minutes and a very good workout for the team.

The starting line-up was:

1. Tony Pennock
2. Dean Chandler
3. Jamie Pitman
4. Kevan Brown
5. Terry Skiverton
6. Rob Cousins
7. Matt Hayfield
8. Steve Stott
9. Warren Patmore
10.Jason Eaton
11.Phil Simpson

Subs (all used): Dave Piper, Ben Smith, Adrian Foster, Tony Pounder, Darren Keeling, Paul Steele.