On Tuesday night the football club in Wimbledon, as is often the case, refused to roll over.

“Often,” but not always.

There have been times where the Dons just didn’t seem to have any fight in them. Even this season has seen some stinkers. The limp 4-1 loss at Newport comes unwittingly to mind.

But as often as not, this is a team that does not quit.

Last season saw several instances of Wimbledon fighting back in the dying minutes of a game, pulling out heroic measures to get a point or three out of what was otherwise a dismal situation.

There were enough of those afternoons that “#ArdleyTime” started to build a head of steam.

FA CUP PICTURE GALLERY: AFC Wimbledon 3 v 1 York City

AFC Wimbledon: Look who's back among the goals

So it was again on Tuesday night in the FA Cup replay. The home side went into the tunnel at half-time still down a goal and, given our recent form, there was a creeping sense that our last Cup run of the season was ending that night.

But no one told the boys that.

Twenty-odd minutes of relentless pressing gave way to a clean finish from Jack Smith. Matt Tubbs then snagged himself a brace in the last 10 minutes to send Wimbledon through to the second round.

The result was fantastic, and with a tough but not insurmountable challenge at Wycombe in a few weeks, we have a realistic shot at the promised land that is the third round.

But more important than the result was the performance. The team needed a win, and they got one.

Wimbledon fans can look past many faults in their team. What we cannot abide is timidity and a willingness to surrender.

With two wins behind us, and a beatable Oxford on the menu tomorrow, this team has not rediscovered its pride so much as reasserted it.