AFC Wimbledon 2-1 Hartlepool

Danny Hylton became an instant hero as AFC Wimbledon came from behind to beat Hartlepool tonight.

Signed on loan from Rotherham just 24 hours earlier, Hylton emerged from the bench at half-time to transform a home side who trailed at the interval to Luke James’ close range effort.

Will Antwi levelled with 18 minutes to go, but it was Hylton who raised the roof at the Cherry Red Records Stadium with his 75th minute winner.

Boss Neal Ardley made four changes from Saturday’s win over Exeter with Jim Fenlon returning from suspension for the injured Callum Kennedy, while there was a first start for Aaron Morris in a back three, a rare start for Kevin Saint-Luce and a recall for Charlie Sheringham.

Bradley Walker tested Worner early on with a shot from distance arching towards the top corner, but the Dons keeper reacted well to tip over for a corner.

Dons were slow to get going but missed a glorious chance to level on 22 minutes.

Sammy Moore’s corner from the right was flicked on at the near post to Saint-Luce who was free on the six-yard line. However the young winger enjoying a rare Dons’ start went for the spectacular when it was not required and scuffed the effort which was easily cleared.

Seven minutes later the winger had the chance to atone when Sheringham flicked on another corner from the right. This time he made a much better connection, but Simon Walton’s brilliant last-ditch challenge snuffed out the danger.

At the other end Morris had to be alert  to stop Luke James storming clear, but the United man was more successful on his next raid as the visitors went in front on 43 minutes.

Neil Austin did the hard work down the right and when Andy Monkhouse heade his cros back into James’ path he bundled it over the line.

Ardley’s response was a double change at the interval with Hylton and Charlie Wyke replacing Midson and Sheringham.

The swaps almost brought instant response as the two men combined straight from the kick-off, Hylton sending Wyke in for a shot from the right-hand side of the box which forced Scott Flinders into his first save of the evening.

However, ex-West Ham man Marlon Harewood should have made it 2-0 seven minutes into the half when he outpaced the cover only top lash over the top.

With the game more open Sammy Moore and Luke Williams went close at their respective ends,the lkatter forcing another good stop from the excellent Worner before Dons turned the game on its head with two goals in three minutes.

The leveller on 72 minutes saw Moore find space on the right and though Antwi’s header from the cross wasn’t the most emphatic it looped over Flinders and was adjudged to have crossed the line before the defence could hack clear.

With the noise level cranked up several notches Dons then struck again with Hylton picking the ball up on the edge of the box and firing a low shot into the bottom corner past Flinders’ right hand.

Stunned by the turnaround Jack Baldwin escaped with a yellow card for a scything challenge on substitute Chris Arthur that might easily have been a red.

James threatened a leveller in the final minute of normal time with a cross shot parried by Worner who grabbed the ball at the second attempt before Monkhouse could gobble up the rebound.

Four minutes of added time were called, but a final corner was headed emphatically clear as the Dons sealed back to back wins.