GRAHAM Westley praised comeback kid Lawrie Wilson after the winger scored on his first start in eight months in Boro s 3-0 win at AFC Wimbledon on Monday afternoon. The Boro boss said Wilson had worked so hard to get back into the first team following a

GRAHAM Westley praised comeback kid Lawrie Wilson after the winger scored on his first start in eight months in Boro's 3-0 win at AFC Wimbledon on Monday afternoon.

The Boro boss said Wilson had "worked so hard" to get back into the first team following a dislocated ankle against Rushden & Diamonds in August last year and after an appearance off the bench against Luton Town on Saturday Wilson was thrown into the starting line-up away to Terry Brown's Dons on Monday.

"It's terrific. He worked so hard to get himself in the side at the beginning of the season. He was in fantastic form, growing with every game," Westley said.

"The horrible injury that he took, he's worked so hard to get himself back in. He's got himself back on the training ground, into reserve action, came on Saturday and got his first team minutes and wasn't it great to see him perform so well and to see him get that first goal."

After the defeat to Luton on Saturday Boro were two points ahead of the Hatters with a game in hand at the top of the Blue Square Premier and it stayed that way following the win against Wimbledon.

"I said after the game I thought we were the better side on Saturday and I didn't think we got what we deserved," Westley said. "It's not about feeling sorry for yourselves. We had work to do and the boys got back to it in good fashion."

Wilson's 11th minute volley came just two minutes after Mark Roberts had opened the scoring at Kingsmeadow.

Boro added a third in the second half through Boro's forgotten man Eddie Odhiambo, but Westley said although the attacker had played so few first team games this season the 24-year-old worked hard for the team behind closed doors.

"I love football when things like that happen," Westley said. "He's worked hard in the background, kept himself positive. He hadn't had a lot of first team action...that's football rewarding someone who had been good and who has contributed behind the scenes. When his chance comes along and it hits the back of the net like that it's great that he shares in what we're doing."

Following the win in Surrey Boro have five days off from Blue Square Premier action in which to recharge their batteries ahead of a home match against Forest Green on Saturday.

"They've been brilliant over the course of the weekend keeping themselves right physically," Westley said. "It's an incredible performance when you look at the amount of players that have played two 90 minutes in three days. They haven't got that physical ability for no reason; they've got it because they work so hard, keep themselves right and look after themselves and all credit to them."

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