Leicester City continued their march to promotion and the Premiership with a four-goal demolition of Wimbledon at the Walkers Stadium.

Two first-half penalties dispatched by Paul Dickov, a Trevor Benjamin strike shortly after the restart and then Dickov's 89th-minute hat-trick goal boosted the Foxes' bid to climb out of Nationwide Division One and back into the top flight at the first time of asking.

The hosts had survived an early scare when a breakdown in communication between goalkeeper Ian Walker and defender Gerry Taggart almost gifted the Dons a shock opener from a seemingly innocuous Gareth Ainsworth cross.

But though Walker was called into action on two more occasions before half-time, first to deny Neil Shipperley's close-range header and then to frustrate Wayne Gray, City looked in little danger of conceding.

Much of the football was being played in front of the Wimbledon goal and keeper Kelvin Davis was at full stretch to deny Dickov on 10 minutes, the Scotsman's snap shot from a Jamie Scowcroft centre being parried goalwards but Trond Andersen cleared off the line.

Dickov was to have his revenge in the 33rd minute when referee Eddie Evans ruled the back-tracking Jermaine Darlington had hauled back Frank Sinclair off the ball but inside the penalty area.

Dickov made no mistake from 12 yards as he placed the ball to Davies' left with the keeper diving to his right.

The afternoon lurched from bad to worse for the Londoners who were rocked by a second penalty award by the Manchester official seven minutes later, Rob Gier adjudged to have handled a right-wing cross from Jamie Scowcroft.

This time though, Dickov went for power rather than placement as he drilled the spot-kick into the middle of the goal. Davis again launched himself in vain to the right.

Benjamin, who netted his first goal at the Walkers Stadium during Monday evening's 1-1 draw with table toppers Portsmouth, ensured any Wimbledon fightback was doomed even before it had begun by scoring the Foxes' third of the game three minutes into the second period.

Benjamin had begun the attack himself, spraying the ball out to Jordan Stewart who cut in off the left flank only to miscue a shot which arrived at the feet of his team-mate, Davis being shown no mercy.

Scowcroft came close to making the scoresheet too but his 73rd-minute header from Alan Rogers' left-wing corner found the Wimbledon crossbar instead of the net.

Walker was troubled by a Wayne Gray shot which was comfortably saved low to the keeper's right.

But the City custodian was made to work harder in the 78th minute as Ainsworth saw his ferocious drive tipped over and then Shipperley an aerial effort blocked on the line.

Dickov ensured he would go home with the match ball as hit his third in the 89th minute, Davis having spilled Stewart's initial shot into the striker's path.

Teams

Leicester Walker, Sinclair, Taggart (Impey 65), Elliott, Rogers, Scowcroft, Izzet, McKinlay (Jones 69), Stewart, Dickov, Benjamin (Summerbee 75).

Subs Not Used: Wright, Flowers.

Goals: Dickov 34 pen, 41 pen, Benjamin 48, Dickov 90.

Wimbledon Davis, Volz, Gier, Leigertwood, Williams, Ainsworth, Reo-Coker, Andersen (Agyemang 73), Darlington (Morgan 60), Gray, Shipperley.

Subs Not Used: Hawkins, Tapp, Gore.

Att: 31,438

Ref: E Evans (Manchester).