Shaun Goater's first goal of the campaign secured a Worthington Cup quarter-final spot.

Goater struck with 10 minutes to go with a spectacular goal which finally broke Wimbledon's resistance and set up a last eight clash with Ipswich.

Andy Roberts had put the Dons ahead before Paulo Wanchope equalised before the break and Goater's goal broke Wimbledon's resistance.

Although the big Bermudan got the winner in a match his team increasingly dominated, it was little Shaun Wright-Phillips who produced the performance of the night.

The youngster could have rounded off his display with a goal but he dragged an effort wide in injury time.

Wright-Phillips added the sparkle to a dull first-half and he created the first opening with a ball into the box that fell for Goater.

Goater made struck his effort well on the six-yard line but was denied by Dean Blackwell's brave tackle.

Wimbledon's first serious attack took them in front.

Neal Ardley's cross from the right after City defender Steve Howey's error ended with Andy Roberts heading the ball into the ground and then hooking it high over Nicky Weaver on 11 minutes.

City looked tentative but they were boosted on 26 minutes with an equaliser.

Wright-Phillips jinked his way in from the right at some pace and then unleashed a 25-yard shot that fizzed into goalkeeper Kelvin Davis and straight back to Paulo Wanchope, who coolly side-footed the ball home.

A minute later Weaver had to make a fine block from a John Hartson drive.

Wright-Phillips almost got his name on the scoresheet on 33 minutes when, after a Kevin Horlock corner had been only half-cleared, he lashed a low drive from the edge of the box just past the post.

City needed to replace the limping Howey near the break with Gerard Wiekens and almost went ahead on 60 minutes.

Jeff Whitley's touch gave Wright-Phillips the chance for a curling cross that Wanchope met with a flicked header which cleared the bar by inches.

Wright-Phillips saw one rising drive crash into the side-netting and he then sent a long range shot whistling inches wide.

Ian Bishop, before being replaced by Kennedy, lifted a long ball in from the right for Goater to side-foot over the bar.

Goater had two more quickfire chances, one superbly saved from 10 yards by Davis and another angled effort that hit the foot of a post with the Wimbledon goalkeeper well beaten.

Goater, only just back from a long injury, finally got the goal he deserved on 81 minutes.

Kennedy's ball into the box was flicked on by Wanchope, and there was the man whose goals clinched promotion last season with an overhead effort that crashed past Davis.