OXFORD United claimed a club-record ninth straight win as they saw off AFC Wimbledon to reach the Papa John’s Trophy semi-finals.

A successful night all-round for the U’s saw Sam Winnall open his U’s account with two goals in the first half an hour.

Mide Shodipo fired in off the post shortly after the break to put the contest to bed, although Ethan Chislett’s late consolation for the managerless visitors worried United.

The goal briefly perked Wimbledon up, but the U’s were good value for their win on a historic night for the club.

Of United’s three deadline-day signings, only Joe Grayson joined in time to make Karl Robinson’s bench.

The U’s head coach made six changes in an experimental line-up, with Jamie Hanson partnering Elliott Moore at centre back.

Winnall was one of the fringe players given an opportunity to impress and he took just 13 minutes to make his mark.

Josh Ruffels brought down Elliott Moore’s lofted ball on the left flank and charged forward, curling a wicked ball towards the penalty spot.

Wimbledon goalkeeper Sam Walker came to claim but was nowhere near the cross and Winnall headed into the gaping net.

Shane McLoughlin should have done better on the 20-minute mark when he headed his side’s first corner wide at the back post, having escaped the attentions of the U’s defence.

The midfielder was then forced off with a knock, Callum Reilly replacing him, and United doubled their lead within seconds of play restarting.

Wimbledon lost possession high up the pitch and Mark Sykes fed Shodipo, who knocked the ball towards the byline as he raced past Cheye Alexander.

Walker dived in to claim, but the QPR loanee managed to dig out a cross and Winnall wrapped his foot around the ball to score from close-range.

Rob Hall quickly had a free-kick parried away and Josh Ruffels’ shot was blocked by Archie Procter with Walker beaten, but, like their last visit here on Boxing Day, the visitors responded well after going 2-0 down.

Top-scorer Joe Pigott slid Chislett in and the winger made space to shoot, but Simon Eastwood got down to his left to tip the ball wide.

United’s keeper then denied Pigott and Reilly in quick succession, before Winnall was unable to dig the ball out of his feet following good work from Shodipo in stoppage-time.

Grayson replaced Alex Gorrin at the break, with Hanson moving into midfield, while Zach Robinson replaced Jack Rudoni for Wimbledon.

The U’s looked intent on extending their lead from the moment the second half kicked off and did so inside seven minutes.

Sykes slid in and the ball broke to Shodipo, who raced forward and planted a precise shot in off the far post for his ninth goal of the season.

United were in the mood and Winnall was inches from a hat-trick on the hour mark, as he received the ball from Hall and slammed a low effort just wide.

With the game seemingly wrapped up, Robinson showed United’s strength in depth by bringing on Cameron Brannagan, Matty Taylor and James Henry for Shodipo, Winnall and Liam Kelly with 24 minutes left.

Two of the substitutes combined immediately as Henry played in Brannagan, only for Walker to deny the midfielder one-on-one with his feet.

That chance was sandwiched by Josh Ruffels flashing a pair of efforts wide of the far post, but Wimbledon gave themselves a lifeline with 12 minutes left.

United could not clear following Ryan Longman’s effort and Chislett directed the ball home, via the hand of Eastwood.

Sam Long came on for Hall to help see the game out and Taylor had a shot blocked late on, as the U's marched into the last four.

Oxford United (4-3-3): Eastwood, Forde, Hanson, Moore, Ruffels, Kelly (Brannagan 66), Gorrin (Grayson 46), Sykes, Hall (Long 82), Winnall (Taylor 66), Shodipo (Henry 66).

Unused subs: Stevens, Agyei.

Booked: AFC Wimbledon (4-3-3): Walker, Alexander (Biler 70), O’Neill, Procter, Osew (Assal 60), McLoughlin (Reilly 28), Oksanen, Chislett, Rudoni (Robinson 46), Pigott (Currie 60), Longman.

Unused subs: Tzanev, Sutcliffe.

Booked: Longman.

Referee: Darren Drysdale (Lincolnshire).