Is it just me or is our football life really getting better and better just now?

Okay, so we’ll face tougher challenges than a rugged but limited Woodford Town side - and that November 23 face-off against CCL leaders Wallingford is rapidly approaching - but this lively cup game had it all.

Woodford lost their heads in the last few minutes as the game slipped away from them and two of their wilder characters were sent off.

That would normally have been the abiding memory of the night but Danny Oakins ensured that this game will always be remembered for his outrageous lob from the halfway line in the 90th minute - it was even better than the 45-yarder which Ali Russell scored against Cobham in the previous league game.

It rained on a match day for the first time this season to produce a slick, and occasionally slippery, playing surface which glistened under the Kingsmeadow lights.

But another healthy crowd - almost double Franchise’s record low attendance of the previous night and with every customer paying to get in Mr Koppel - found shelter under cover until the worst of the rain had disappeared and combat was joined.

Woodford’s amply proportioned goalkeeper Terry Neal received a warm welcome from the West Bank but won us over by demonstrating that a winning smile and a decent sense of humour wins out over obscene gestures every time - please take note, the Walton Casuals keeper.

In fact, Terry’s ability to see the funny side of all the usual 'Who ate all the pies?' taunts, together with some cracking saves, earned him the man of the match award.

The league may be the Dons' priority this season but there’s no doubt that a decent run in one or all of the three cup competitions we are also competing in this year would be very welcome.

And this game provided further proof that Terry Eames' team is starting to gel impressively - Gavin Bolger scored his first goal for the club and produced another excellent display in midfield before limping off just before half-time following a heavy challenge.

The left-sided combination of Simon Bassey and Andy Sullivan worked brilliantly - Bassey’s tackling was sound and his distribution to Sullivan almost faultless. He is unrecognisable from the player who struggled in midfield earlier this season and it’s a real shame that his 35-day suspension will shortly kick in.

Kevin Cooper scored twice and could have bagged a few more while Lee Passmore, the unsung hero of the side, was his usual unfussy but efficient self in the heart of midfield.

It was also encouraging to note the depth in the squad - Sidwell and Bolger, two of the stars of the team in recent weeks, went off at half-time but their replacements Keith Ward and Neil Robson slotted in well and the side went on to run away with the game.

The Dons had the better of the game from the start, with Lee Sidwell and Andy Sullivan providing good width, and the first chance arrived after just four minutes as Sully set up Cooper with an excellent cutback.

Mind you, it wasn’t all one-way traffic because Woodford had their opportunities as well - most notably a chip wide of the far post when their main striker was clean through on goal.

When the goal which the Dons had been threatening finally arrived in the 26th minute, it was simplicity itself - one of numerous corners was headed back across goal by Mark Nicholas and Gavin Bolger scored his first Wimbledon goal with a straightforward header.

Cooper almost scored a peach of a goal on the half hour when he controlled the ball on the angle of the penalty area and his beautifully flighted shot clipped the top of the bar.

And the Dons maintained the pressure with Cooper unable to get a shot away when Lee Sidwell played him in and the referee waving away a penalty appeal when Coops appeared to be fouled.

Wimbledon produced the best move of the match immediately after half-time when Bassey's great pass sent Sully flying down the wing and Coops skied his perfect cross over the bar - terrific football which deserved to grace a much higher level.

The crucial period of the game happened around the hour mark when Ray Merry, a spectator for much of the match in the Wimbledon goal, pulled off an outstanding save at point blank range to keep the Dons ahead.

Just two minutes later Cooper's persistence on the edge of the box brought him the ultimate reward as he fought his way through a couple of tackles and fired a cracking shot into the far corner to make it 2-0.

Then in the 70th minute Coops produced a carbon copy of his free-kick from the Cobham game, sidefooting the ball into the corner, before Woodford’s frustration finally boiled over.

Wimbledon players had picked up bookings throughout the game, with the visitors appearing to escape without punishment, but when Darran Naughton made what could politely be described as an 'obscene gesture' to the crowd he didn’t even wait for a red card.

He milked his big moment by tearing his shirt off and continuing to dish out abuse as he left the field and he was soon joined in the dressing room by Delroy Forde whose foul on Mark Nicholas earned him his marching orders.

There was still time for Danny Oakins' big moment as he capitalised on chaos in the Woodford defence - keeper Neal winded and his centre-back lying injured on the ground - to fire in an outrageous lob which somehow ended up in the back of the net.

Quite a night for AFCW - bring on Bedfont in the next round of the London Senior Cup.

[ --- Matthew Akid, http://afcwimbledon.co.uk/matches/reports/homewoodford301002.html]