Adam Nowland's fifth goal of the season was enough for Wimbledon to book a place in the fourth round of the FA Cup at the expense of Stoke.

Stuart Murdoch's Nationwide Division One strugglers survived a second-half onslaught to end City's seven-game unbeaten run and secure a trip to Barclaycard Premiership Birmingham later this month.

Stoke made four changes to the side which recorded a 2-1 win at home to Derby on Saturday.

Neil Cutler, Sebastian Svard, Chris Greenacre and Carl Asaba came in for Ed de Goey, Gerry Taggart, Gifton Noel-Williams and Ade Akinbiyi.

The Dons, who were beaten 1-0 at Crewe at the weekend, made a double change, with Alex Tapp and Dean Holdsworth replacing Nigel Reo-Coker and Jamie Mackie.

The visitors made a bright start, with Tapp and Nowland both trying their luck from distance.

They were dealt a blow in the 18th minute, however, as Wade Small limped out of the action to be replaced by Michael Gordon.

Stoke's first chance of the evening fell to Greenacre, but he could not keep his shot down and the action quickly switched to the other end.

Nowland unleashed a 30-yard piledriver which Cutler thought was going wide, but the ball clipped the outside of the post.

Wimbledon got the goal their pressure deserved after 32 minutes.

John Halls brought down Holdsworth on the edge of the box, and from the resulting free-kick the impressive Nowland fired the ball around the wall and into the bottom corner.

City began to look threatening as the first half drew to a close. Lewis Neal's 25-yard drive had Steve Banks scrambling, while Asaba should have done better with a header from six yards in injury-time.

The home side continued to push forward at the start of the second half as Asaba blazed a shot over the crossbar before firing inches past the post when well placed in the 61st minute.

Chris Iwelumo was introduced to the action with 20 minutes remaining as Stoke tried desperately to snatch an equaliser, but it was Wimbledon who almost added a second with time ticking away.

Holdsworth played the ball to Tapp, who then sent Wayne Gray clear, but the Dons forward failed to hit the target with a low drive.

Teams

Stoke: Cutler, Russell, Thomas, Halls, Clarke, Hoekstra, Eustace, Svard (Johnson 74), Neal (Commons 61), Greenacre (Iwelumo 72), Asaba.

Subs Not Used: de Goey, Owen.

Booked: Clarke, Eustace.

Wimbledon: Banks, Darlington, Gier, Leigertwood, Lewington, McAnuff, Nowland, Tapp (Chorley 75), Small (Gordon 19), Holdsworth (Mackie 79), Gray.

Subs Not Used: Harding, Worgan.

Booked: Lewington.

Goals: Nowland 32.

Att: 6,463

Ref: I Williamson (Berkshire).