Wycombe Wanderers 2, AFC Wimbledon 0.

JOSH Scowen scored his first goal of the season and Sam Wood netted for the second week running as Wanderers won again to take sole ownership of top spot in League Two.

They pulled two points clear at the top after seeing off a below-par Wimbledon side in a comfortable victory, with Scowen netting only his third-ever goal for the club.

Wood’s goal was less spectacular than his 40 yarder the previous week but it was crucial in wrapping up another three points as Blues stretched their unbeaten spell to ten matches.

They had to be workmanlike to break down a stubborn Wimbledon side who showed little in attack, particularly in a gloomy opening 45 minutes that lacked any real excitement.

Neither side could get their rhythm going as several players struggled to stay on their feet and too many passes went astray, failing to find their target, before Wanderers upped the ante after the break to seal another important three points.

Joe Jacobson’s 40 yard free kick flew comfortably wide of the goal, with the distance the full back had elected to shoot from giving an indication as to the paucity of opportunities.

Chances for both sides suddenly followed in rapid succession to awaken the crowd from its slumber as firstly Scowen’s fiercely-hit volley from outside the box was well fielded by visiting keeper James Shea as the ball bounced awkwardly right in front of him, before the Dons broke and Adebayo Akinfenwa was foiled by Jacobson’s sliding challenge as the giant forward looked to get on the end of strike partner Matt Tubbs’ flick.

Another volleyed attempt from Scowen cleared the bar before the referee intervened with a series of soft bookings for Akinfenwa, Jacobson and Sean Rigg – the last two of whom received yellow cards after appearing to have put in perfectly timed sliding tackles.

Sam Wood’s header from a Paris Cowan-Hall cross was nodded clear by Adam Barrett before Peter Murphy’s thumping hit from 25 yards was brilliantly saved low down by Shea.

A first half that saw more yellow cards whipped out than clear goalscoring chances created ended as a superbly improvised shot from captain Paul Hayes dipped just the wrong side of the post with Shea flatfooted.

The majority of those few chances had fallen Wanderers’ way however and they paid their opponents pay within five minutes of the restart. An up-and-under from Wood was inadvertently nodded into the danger zone by Dons defender Barrett and Scowen gleefully latched onto the ball, advanced into space and unleashed a shot past Shea to put Blues in front.

It was a lead that was a whisker away from being doubled within minutes as Murphy’s effort from distance didn’t have enough curl on it to take it into the corner and former Wanderers defender Alan Bennett got in Hayes’ way as the skipper tried to convert an inviting Steven Craig cross.

A headed clearance dropped to Murphy to volley over, before the midfielder skilfully slalomed his way past no fewer than three defenders in a break from deep before being denied by a brave smothering save from Shea.

Wimbledon finally posed a threat as Cowan-Hall slid in to cut out Jack Smith’s cross after the full back had been afforded far too much room on the left, before Barrett headed the resulting corner high over the crossbar.

That was an extremely rare moment of danger from the lacklustre visitors however and Wanderers soon earned themselves a two goal cushion. The ending was a tad fortunate following the good work of Hayes and Craig combining to open up the Dons defence and create space the Scotsman to have a crack at goal.

His effort looked to be heading well wide until it was steered into the net by Wood’s head, with the winger looking to be offside and the protests from the visitors were long and loud.

It was the second goal of the day Craig had had a hand in, as Barrett’s wayward header for the first had come under pressure from the striker, who was given a good ovation after being replaced by Matt McClure for the final ten minutes.

Wanderers: Ingram, Jombati, Pierre, Mawson, Jacobson, Cowan-Hall (sub Kretzschmar), Scowen, Murphy, Wood, Hayes (sub Bloomfield), Craig (sub McClure). Substitutes not used: Richardson, Rowe, Lewis, Walker.

Attendance: 4,329 (896 from Wimbledon)