The Dons are Milton kings

The trophy cabinet that was emptied eight months ago, when MK Dons finally admitted pilfering the history of Wimbledon FC, yesterday took possession of a gleaming cup that the upstarts from the new town can call their own.

The Johnstone's Paint Trophy may not rank alongside the FA Cup in terms of prestige, yet its impact on yesterday's winners is every bit as significant as the 1987 FA Cup Final triumph of Lawrie Sanchez and the Crazy Gang.

Unbroken sunshine bathed Wembley Way, while inside the stadium the easy passing style of Paul Ince's composed MK Dons spread happiness on 30,000 travellers from a Buckinghamshire outpost who are still learning about being football fans.

In spite of a deserved triumph, sniping and cynicism still pour out towards a club who are sneeringly called Franchise FC after being disgracefully allowed to uproot, lock, stock and two smoking Vinnie Jones barrels, from their home borough of Merton in 2003 and move 60 miles away up the M1.

A banner at the Grimsby end read: 'Wimbledon are the real Dons' — a reference to AFC Wimbledon, they of the Ryman League Premier Division, who played host to a deputation of Grimsby fans at their home game on Saturday.

The few neutrals at Wembley were firmly behind the club from the north. Not because of any allegiance to the team in black-and-white stripes or even a partiality to fish and chips, but because MK Dons is a name that provokes gnashing of teeth at the injustice of it all.

Even Ince admitted: 'The club have finally created some history of their own. It's something we are reminded of every time we go away.'

That history may soon be doubled with promotion to League One. For all of the sneering about the rights and wrongs of MK Dons' status as a Football League club, the quality of the passing game inspired by Ince cannot be denied.

They are here to stay — something that cannot be claimed about their young manager with any certainty.

Ince insists there is only one job for which he would unconditionally walk out. He said: 'I can only talk about how I feel now. We'll have to wait and see, unless it's Manchester United, although I can't see Sir Alex stepping down at the moment.'

In spite of creating numerous first-half chances, Ince's side should have been behind in the 19th minute when Grimsby missed a penalty. Dons keeper Willy Gueret needlessly pulled down midfielder Paul Bolland, but then dived to his left to beat away Danny Boshell's spot-kick.

Grimsby missed a penalty on their last visit to Wembley, the League One play-off final 10 years ago, but still went on to win that match. Yesterday's miss always appeared likely to be pivotal, especially with Dons creating room for their midfield dynamo Keith Andrews to attack.

At times, it seemed as if Andrews and Grimsby keeper Phil Barnes were engaged in their own private shooting practice. That changed in the 74th minute. Colin Cameron curled a shot against the Grimsby post before a melee that included another superb Barnes stop, this time from Sean O'Hanlon with three players in an offside position, ended with Nick Hegarty bundling over Danny Swailes. Andrews calmly converted the penalty and, when O'Hanlon forced in a header from a corner seven minutes later, victory was sealed.