A record crowd of more than 2,000 turned out to see AFC Wallingford beat AFC Wimbledon 3-0 in Saturday's top-of-the-table Combined Counties League clash at the Hithercroft.

Goalscorer Andy ShildrickAnd there was no shortage of incidents as Wallingford finished with nine men, and Wimbledon ten.

But Wallingford refused to be fazed by that - or by crowd trouble at half-time - as they cruised to victory.

In a match that was far from dirty, and played on an excellent surface despite heavy overnight rain, three players saw red, adding to the passion and excitement of Saturday's Seagrave Haulage Combined Counties League Premier Division top-of-the-table clash.

With the Hithercroft full to bursting point, the visitors, cheered on by some 2,000 travelling supporters among the 2,300 crowd, started brightly.

But a mixture of poor finishing, and excellent defending kept the Wimbledon waves at bay, and as Wallingford settled, they began to dictate the play.

An early mistake by Andy Shildrick inside his own area allowed wing-back Danny Oakins an early chance, which he drilled wide. Then Keith Ward saw a goalbound shot deflected away.

But Wallingford showed they weren't going to let the Dons have it their own way, and in the seventh minute, Paul Hannigan let fly with a vicious strike which was blocked by some desperate defending.

Giant centre-forward Shildrick silenced the visiting fans with a ninth-minute opening goal.

He capitalised on some woeful Wimbledon defending to scramble home a shot at the far post as both Sean Daly and Tony Readings fluffed chances to clear their lines.

Impressive young Wally keeper Paul Strudley was called into action for the first time, collecting a swirling ball from the head of Gavin Boller.

Withstanding all that Wimbledon could throw at them, the first moment of controversy arrived when Dons' striker Joe Sherrin became the first to see red.

He was booked for an innocuous challenge, and then immediately sent off for a verbal assault on referee John Kasey.

It angered the visiting fans, but the decision was spot on - and it soon alterted the atmosphere, which became decidedly less friendly.

Still Wimbledon came forward, and Wallingford had keeper Strudley to thank for two excellent saves in the space of a few seconds.

A minute before the break, Wally made their extra man count as Shildrick netted No 2 in spectacular fashion.

Mark Champion did well to hold off Mark Nicholas and then crossed to Shildrick, who unleashed an unstoppable overhead kick from ten yards.

The game was finished as a contest two minutes after the interval as Derek Simpson fired the home side into a 3-0 lead with a superb 20-yard effort.

Just after the hour, Wally midfielder Bradley Ward was sent off for a moment of madness. He got involved in a midfield tussle with Oakins, then, in front of the referee, aimed a headbutt at the Wimbledon man, leaving the official with no option.

The home side took their foot off the gas, and soaked up most of the visitors' pressure, but as tempers began to flare, another innocous challenge brought about a brawl involving around half a dozen players.

Substitute Pete Bryan was shown a yellow card for his part in the fracas. With six minutes left, Wallingford were reduced to nine men as Bryan collected a second yellow card for bringing down Lee Sidwell.

But this was still Wallingford's day, and they are now red-hot favourites for the league title once again.

AFC Wallingford: Strudley, Hannigan, Champion, Campbell, Antonowicz, Green, McKinney, Small-King (Darke 76), Shildrick (Bryan 66), Ward, Simpson (Hancock 54).

Attendance: 2,350.

Referee: J Kasey.