There have been 18 long trips back from grounds from Lincoln to Aldershot to Northampton but Stanley have finally done it – sealed an away win.

The relief was there for all to see on Saturday as the Reds last won on their travels in February – although, to be fair, there have only been five journeys when John Coleman’s charges have trekked back with absolutely nothing.

Just three away wins in the calendar year though still doesn’t make comfortable reading but to finally get off the mark for the season on their travels warranted a huge ‘phew’ from everyone connected with the club.

In Coleman’s analogy : "It’s like taking off a pair of shoes that are too small."

And now the away hoodoo is off their back, there are big plans looking forward.

Last year, the Reds didn’t secure an away victory until Morecambe on New Year’s Day and they still made the play-offs.

They have chipped in a bit earlier this season so let’s hope there is a similar or even better outcome.

To be honest, something had to give for the Reds first visit to Kingsmeadow – a compact, hospitable ground so in fitting with how football should be, away from the massive half-empty stadiums.

Coming into the clash, AFC Wimbledon had not won at home since October 1 in the league and Stanley had that unwanted tag of no away wins this season – so the win looked destined to go to side gathering momentum in league. That was definitely the Reds.

Terry Brown’s side have not won in the league for eight games now while Stanley have now extended their run to five league clashes without defeat as they move to within six points of the play-offs.

Not bad for a side that were looking over their shoulders not so many week’s ago.

Coleman has been bemoaning his side’s lack of fire power but Padraig Amond made it three goals in two games while Craig Lindfield scored his second in two – you just hope that these two can keep their form going into a busy Christmas period.

Both took their goals well, Amond getting on the end of Bryan Hughes’ cross from the right with just three minutes gone and Lindfield meeting Dean Winnard’s ball again from the right on 24 minutes.

At 2-0 up you can never be confident it’s game over for the Reds as fans who watched clashes with Huddersfield, Oldham and Bradford in the past can testify.

But Coleman’s charges were never seriously troubled until the final minutes and the backline managed to hold firm to make it two clean sheets in a row – after going 16 games without one.

Coleman admitted it was a welcome relief to take those ‘too small’ shoes off.

"Once we got into injury-time with a two goal cushion, you feel comfortable. At 1-0 there might have been a bit more nail-biting," said the Reds chief.

"To be honest, I wish we could have got the third then we could have enjoyed the last ten minutes a little more but I am not really complaining."

And he was happy for his front men. "I don’t think it’s any secret that I love my forwards to score," said former striker Coleman. "It’s good if midfielders and defenders can chip in but that’s not what their game is about but strikers live on goals, it keeps them buzzing, confident and wanting to go back for more.

"But it was a solid team show and all 11 players were at least a seven out of ten with a few eights and nines thrown in.

"It’s a bonus that it’s an away win that we’ve been struggling to get but we’ve had to put that to one side and try to win as many games as we can.

"We were clinical early on but were a bit wasteful after that and missed a few chances. We panicked a bit at the end, perhaps because we’ve gone so long without winning away, but I thought overall we defended really well."

The Reds were at it from the off with a Hughes cross to the near post finding Amond who nipped ahead of his defender and clipped the ball home.

There was delays for treatment to Reds captain Andy Procter who took a kick in the face from his team-mate Winnard while a flailing arm from Jamie Stuart left Amond grounded – with the Wimbledon man escaping with a yellow card.

The home side were pressing but a great move resulted in number two for the Reds.

Hughes stroked the ball crossfield to defender Winnard who was racing forward on the right and he played the ball in perfectly for this time Lindfield to get across his marker and slot home.

Luke Joyce had a chance to make it three before half-time when the ball came to him unmarked 12 yards out but he fired it wide.

Hughes was pulling the strings for the Reds and Wimbledon, despite having 11-goal Jack Midson up front, offered little threat.

It’s become a statistic that when Lindfield scores, Stanley don’t lose as they have beaten Scunthorpe, Dagenham and now Wimbledon with him on target.

And the home side didn’t look like seriously troubling the Reds despite coming out in the second half and pushing two up front.

In fact, after a penalty appeal at each end, Amond had the best effort which was scrambled off the line.

Keeper Ian Dunbavin must have been freezing with little to do but, when called into action, he one-handedly denied AFC sub Brendan Kiernan in the dying minutes – their only real chance.

With the two-goal cushion, the Reds never really looked under threat and Coleman felt they finally got what they deserved after playing well on their travels but the three points had kept eluding them.

"If you keep playing well, you will eventually win and, if you are playing badly but nicking wins, eventually you will start losing and you lose for a long time," he added.

"I have always been an advocate of getting your form right, getting how you play right and, once you are playing well, the results will generally fall into place."

A second successive away win at Morecambe on Boxing Day will certainly vanish memories of away day blues.