There was no room for sentiment at the National Hockey Stadium as player-boss Dennis Wise led Millwall to a victory which effectively set the seal on his former club's relegation from Nationwide One.

In a thoroughly one-sided contest the Lions deserved the points and in truth should have won by a bigger margin than Tim Cahill's solitary strike.

But for former 'Crazy Gang' member Wise this result may have brought mixed emotions as he helped cast Wimbledon 24 points adrift of safety with only a possible 30 left to play for.

The Dons were boosted by the inclusion of Wayne Gray, who made the starting line-up after shaking off a knee injury, but Dean Lewington was still suspended.

Jamie Mackie had to settle for a place on the bench on his return from injury while new loan signing Gary Smith was also named among the substitutes.

Millwall were back to full strength with Darren Ward available despite a niggling injury while Wise started on the bench after recovering from a knee wound which required stitches.

Going into the game on the back of an impressive run which had seen them beaten just once in their previous 15 games, the Lions were very much the form team - and it showed early on.

They started brightly and after just five minutes carved out the first chance of the game when Paul Ifill drilled at goal.

But their rhythm was disrupted soon after when David Livermore sustained an injury and was forced off to be replaced by Wise.

With the player-boss now marshalling in midfield, the Lions stepped up the pace and after 18 minutes Cahill almost blasted them ahead with a low, skidding effort.

Then two minutes later they went close again as Neil Harris curled goalwards only to see his shot fly wide of the post.

As the visitors pressed, Harris tried his luck again before Danny Dichio headed tamely at goal.

But it was not until late in the half that the Lions made their pressure tell as Kevin Muscat burst clear down the right and squared back for Cahill to score.

Warren Barton almost equalised in the last minute of normal time before the break as Wimbledon looked for an instant response - but his 30-yard effort was well saved by Andy Marshall.

Having made the breakthrough Millwall picked up where they had left off at the start of the second half.

After 56 minutes Cahill volleyed right-footed forcing Scott Bevan to palm the ball away before Andy Roberts drilled the follow-up wide.

Then eight minutes later inspirational Aussie Cahill tore the Dons apart again as he crossed for Dichio to glance a header wide before drilling in another effort himself.

Wimbledon looked completely devoid of ideas and even the introduction of youngster Malvin Kamara in place of Barton failed to stem the flow of pressure.

And with seven minutes left Millwall thought they had wrapped up the points - but the effort was ruled out after Cahill was adjudged to have wandered offside.

Teams

Wimbledon Bevan, Oyedele, Hawkins, Williams, Puncheon, Darlington, Chorley, Barton (Kamara 71), Jarrett (Smith 37), Gray, Herzig (Mackie 45).

Subs Not Used: Ntimban-Zeh, Martin.

Booked: Gray, Barton.

Millwall Marshall, Muscat, Lawrence, Ward, Ryan, Roberts, Cahill, Ifill (Chadwick 60), Livermore (Wise 19), Dichio, Harris (Sweeney 67).

Subs Not Used: Elliott, Warner.

Goals: Cahill 43.

Att: 3,037

Ref: M Jones (Cheshire).