The end of the season is almost here and for the visitors Wimbledon another season of first division football is certain, but for Stoke it's all to play for and three points would go a long way to securing their saftey.
Early on Mark Crossley was extremely lucky to stay on the pitch when David Connolly was clean through and a lunging tackle from the Potters' goalie stopped him in his tracks. But he escaped with a yellow card.
A goal arrived from nowhere in the 29th minute when Peter Hoekstra supplied a cross from the right to pick out Brynjar Gunnarsson at the near post and he sent the ball looping over Kelvin Davis and into the bottom right corner.
Stoke made it two on the stroke of half time when a throughball by Gunnarsson released Ade Akinbiyi, who skipped past Rob Gier and hammered home from ten yards with Davis helpless.
City could have been fooled into taking their foot off the gas in the second half but Wimbledon definitely hadn't given up hope.
The Dons launched a counter attack in the 51st with Alex Tapp finally eventually crossed the ball into the middle where Neil Shipperley was waiting to side foot homefrom close range.
Stoke couldn't afford to sit back and went in search of another goal, but Andy Cooke's diving header that whistled narrowly wide was as close as either side came to scoring in the final quarter.
Wimbledon boss Stuart Murdoch was left fustrated, asking: "How does a goalkeeper stay on the pitch when he brings down my centre forward through on goal with no one around?" Before adding: "We found it difficult all season with no fans but we go to Milton Keynes next season and try to drum up a larger support that we can hopefully entertain."