A feisty encounter took place on a cold Wednesday night in South West London as Wimbledon emerged as the deserved victors over high-flying Peterborough United in their first victory at their new stadium. 

Both sides operated with a back three, with Wimbledon making several changes from the team that lost to Crawley Town in the FA Cup on Sunday, whilst Peterborough welcomed back Jonson Clarke-Harris who shook off an ankle injury he sustained against Plymouth Argyle in November.

It was a fast start to the contest, with both sides seemingly keen to hit the front quickly on a chilly evening at Plough Lane.

There was a big chance for Peterborough in the opening stages as Siriki Dembele broke into the box following a slip by Wimbledon's Daniel Csoka and squared the ball to the waiting Ryan Broom but the resulting effort struck the cross bar from close range.

Wimbledon then broke down the other end, with Joe Pigott coming close to meeting Cheye Alexander's well delivered cross in what was a somewhat frantic opening 20 minutes of the game.

Peterborough continued to move the ball quickly, with Wimbledon struggling to restrict the opposition's ball players in the central areas, whilst the likes of Dembele and Broom continued to run riot down the right hand side.

There was almost a breakthrough in strange circumstances as a corner by Jack Rudoni very nearly deceived Christy Pym in the Peterborough goal - luckily for the shot stopper he just kept it out before falling gratefully on the loose ball.

Up the other end, there was a some great play from Ryan Longman who drove forward well before touching the ball off to Pigott, with his resulting strike well saved by Pym down low to the right.

Jack Taylor's shot then deflected just wide as the away side upped their sustained pressure on the Wimbledon backline.

Dembele had been a constant threat for Posh throughout the first half, with the nimble forward dropping deep and running in behind to receive the ball at every opportunity - much to the admiration of the watching gaggle of scouts.

Moving into the second half and it was the home side who would hit the front on the night as Jack Rudoni's well struck shot was palmed into the path of the onrushing Ryan Longman who smashed home from close range on the follow up.

And as a matter of fact the hosts didn't have to wait too much longer to find the net again as Pigott poked home following a goalmouth scramble after Posh failed to clear Rudoni's corner to double Wimbledon's lead.

However Posh soon struck back with a vengeance as Jonson Clarke-Harris fired home a free kick that beat Connal Trueman well at his near post.

Peterborough really started to pin Wimbledon back in their half as they searched for an equaliser, nether the less their late pressure was well repelled by the young Dons who held on to clinch their first win since returning home to Plough Lane on what was yet another historic milestone for this special club.

FULL TIME: AFC Wimbledon 2-1 Peterborough United