A late goal from substitute Matt Stevens prompted a rally from Barnet at a wet and windy Hive today, but the two second-half Wimbledon goals were enough to see the Wombles clinch a 2-1 win.

Barnet welcomed back skipper Andy Yiadom after suspension and gave a first start to right-back James Pearson, who was watched by his father, the ex-Leicester City boss Nigel.

Shaun Batt and Alie Sesay were the men to make way and dropped to the bench.

The wind was in Barnet’s favour in the first-half but it was Wimbledon who settled the quicker and set about their task of breaking the deadlock with vigour.

Their front pairing of Tom Elliott and Lyle Taylor were a constant danger and gave the Barnet rear-guard an uncomfortable afternoon.

Barnet keeper Jamie Stephens was again in good form and he was called upon on numerous occasions to deny a Wimbledon side who were creating opportunities at an alarming rate.

With almost ten minutes on the clock a 25-yard shot from Yiadom – operating in central midfield – tested Wimbledon keeper Kelle Roos who was grateful to see effort go narrowly wide.

In the first half Wimbledon winger Andy Barcham almost caught Barnet napping when, from a throw-in routine, he hit the side netting as the visitors looked the most likely to break the deadlock.

The Bees also were creating chances, albeit not at the rate of the visitors, and it was Yiadom who would again come close to giving Barnet a lead as half time loomed.

AFC Wimbledon made the breakthrough in the first minute of the second half when a long ball forward was misjudged by Bondz N’Gala which allowed Taylor to steer the ball past the advancing Stephens for his 13th league goal of the season.

This was the first goal that Barnet had conceded in five games.

Buoyed by this goal Wimbledon sought to double their lead and the Barnet defence was subject to continued pressure.

After holding firm the home side rallied and went in search of a leveller.

In a breakaway Pearson was set-up by John Akinde and his well-struck effort was pushed aside by Roos who was happy to concede a corner.

Luke Gambin then played a well-weighted pass into the bath of substitute Batt but once more Roos was equal to the task.

Stephens was again called upon to keep Barnet in the game as he kept out an acrobatic effort by Adebayo Azeez with an instinctive reaction save.

With five minutes of normal time remaining the victory looked assured for Wimbledon.

Azeez bundled the ball home following an astute delivery into the penalty box from the right by George Francomb – a former Bees loanee.

Yet two minutes later a poacher’s strike from close range by teenage substitute Stevens, his first league goal for the club, gave Barnet a glimmer of hope that they might be able to salvage a point.

In time added on Curtis Weston hit a powerful drive just over the crossbar that would have been an equaliser but it would be hard to argue that Wimbledon did not deserve to claim all the spoils.

Barnet: Stephens; Pearson, Nelson, N'Gala, Johnson; Hackett (Batt 45, (Randall 75)), Yiadom (c), Togwell (Stevens 66), Weston, Gambin; Akinde.

Subs: McKenzie-Lyle (GK), Champion, Muggleton, Sesay.

Wimbledon: Roos; Fuller, Robinson, Meades, Sweeney; Barcham, Bulman, Reeves, Francomb (Rigg 88); Taylor (Azeez 74), Elliott (Akinfenwa 74).

Subs: Shea (GK), Kennedy, Smith, Fitzpatrick.

Referee: Lee Collins.

Attendance: 3,289 (1,409 away fans).