A late goal from Mathew Stevens wasn’t enough to save Barnet from a 2-1 defeat to in-form AFC Wimbledon.

Lyle Taylor put the visitors ahead with the first chance of the second half, before substitute Adebayo Azeez doubled the Dons lead in the 84th minute.

Stevens’ strike a minute later ensured an exciting finish to the game, but Martin Allen’s side couldn’t find a late equaliser to take a share of the points. 

Andy Yiadom had the Bees’ first chance of the match when his shot from distance flew wide of the left post after nine minutes.

The Dons responded two minutes later – the impressive Andy Barcham letting fly with a shot that narrowly missed the target.

Returning captain Yiadom then headed over the bar from a Luke Gambin cross, with just over a 15 minutes on the clock. 

Tom Elliott tested Jamie Stephens on the half hour mark; the Bees keeper had to be at his best to keep out the forward’s drive from the right side of the box. 

A John Akinde shot forced a save from Kelle Roos in the 37th minute, after Curtis Weston burst through and laid the ball off to the Bees top scorer. 

Barnet’s best effort of the first half came five minutes before the break – Yiadom’s curling shot was palmed away to safety by Wimbledon’s on loan keeper. 

However it was the visitors who took the lead immediately after the re-start. 

A high ball over the top was met by Taylor, who poked it past Stephens and into the back of the net. 

James Pearson was making his first start in a Barnet shirt, and almost brought the Bees back on level terms when his low shot from the right was saved after 60 minutes.

Shaun Batt’s effort was then kept out by Roos four minutes later, before the forward had to be replaced with a hamstring injury. 

Barnet pushed for an equaliser, and Mark Randall drilled a shot wide of the left post with 12 minutes left to play. 

Yiadom forced a corner with a powerful drive from the right side of the box, before Stevens headed the resulting set piece agonisingly wide of the goal. 

But it was Wimbledon who struck next, when Azeez bundled the ball home from a right sided cross in the 84th minute.

The Bees responded immediately when Stevens pulled a goal back from close range.

Weston fired over the bar in injury time, but Wimbledon held on to take home all three points.

Barnet are back in action again on Tuesday when they take on Portsmouth at The Hive – kick-off 7:45pm.