Jack Nolan’s eleventh goal of the campaign and a Ben Woods blast secured Accrington Stanley a win over fellow promotion challengers AFC Wimbledon.
Nolan struck in the 50th minute with a superb solo goal, curling the ball home from the edge of the area, before Ben Woods made the game safe.
But the Reds were also indebted to a brilliant double save from Manchester United loan keeper Radek Vitek to ensure they collected the three points.
Kelvin Mellor came into the Reds backline with the absence of Lewis Shipley and Jay Rich-Baghuelou.
There was little in terms of goalmouth action in the first half with the first save coming on 27 minutes, Vitek diving low to keep out a James Tilley cross/shot from the right.
Stanley had a few corners which Nolan whipped in but no one could get on the end of them.
Tommy Leigh fired wide from distance on 37 minutes while Jake Bickerstaff and Nolan had shots blocked.
Towards the end of the half, Stanley had a great chance but a glancing header from Josh Woods was into the arms of Alex Bass while a Tilley cross was tipped wide by Videk before the break.
The game burst into life after the break. Wimbledon came close from a corner which James Ball couldn’t guide in at the far post.
Then Stanley took the lead on 50 minutes when Wimbledon failed to clear their lines and Josh Woods found Nolan whose finish was perfect.
Nolan went for a second a minute late from further back but his chip was just over the crossbar.
And he came close again, on 55 minutes, cutting inside and weaving his way into space and firing narrowly over.
Tommy Leigh tried to catch Bass off his line from just inside the Wimbledon half but his effort was narrowly wide as Stanley looked for the important second.
Videk then pulled off a double save on 58 minutes to superbly push out unmarked Kofi Balmer’s header from a free kick and he kept out the follow-up from Lee Brown with his legs.
Stanley needed a second and Ben Woods made the game safe on 81 minutes when a Nolan corner was cleared to him 25 yards out and he made space and rifled the ball home.
Stanley: Vitek, O’Brien, Hills, Gubbins (Pickles), Mellor, Nolan, B Woods, Conneely (Henderson), Leigh, J Woods, Bickerstaff
Subs: McIntyre, Quirk, Martin, Pickles, Adekoya, Trickett, Henderson
Yellow: Bickerstaff
Crowd: 2032 (201 from AFC Wimbledon)