Carlisle United 1 AFC Wimbledon 2: Carlisle had another nail hammered into their coffin as they lost to Wimbledon and went nine points adrift of League Two safety.
The Blues conceded early in both halves and a Matt Dennis goal proved only a consolation.
Callum Maycock's goal inside the first two minutes had put the visitors ahead and Alistair Smith volleyed another on 50 minutes.
Dennis headed home a Kadeem Harris cross on 67 minutes but United could not complete their comeback on another deflating afternoon at Brunton Park.
Tranmere Rovers' 1-0 win at Bradford City saw the third-bottom club go nine points clear of the rock-bottom Blues, who are looking increasingly likely to drop into the National League with just ten games left.
It unfolded in front of a 7,050 crowd, some of whom booed at the final whistle with United's gloomy fate looking increasingly set.
Hughes made four changes to the United line-up, with fit-again Dennis and Joe Bevan both starting along with the recalled Josh Vela and Jordan Jones.
That saw Elliot Embleton, Aaron Hayden, Callum Whelan and Cedwyn Scott drop to the bench, while Joe Hugill was among those missing out on a place in the squad.
Vela was in for his first start in three months while it was a first start under Hughes for Jones. United's XI featured just one of the 11 signings they made in the January transfer window.
Gabe Breeze makes a save (Image: Ben Holmes)
Wimbledon boss Jackson made three changes with James Furlong, Maycock and fit-again Ryan Johnson recalled at the expense of Marcus Browne, Isaac Ogundere and James Tilley, the latter out of the squad.
The game got under way after a moving minute's applause in memory of Poppy Atkinson, the ten-year-old girl who was tragically killed in Kendal earlier this month.
When the action started, Carlisle lasted less than two minutes before conceding.
They went behind when they were unable to prevent Wimbledon keeping the ball alive around the box to the right, and eventually Maycock had space in front of him to fire into the top right corner.
It was a bleak start for the Cumbrians, who struggled to create in response.
There were groans around Brunton Park when Jones, on the left, sent a cross over everyone in the middle of the area.
A while later the winger saw a shot deflected behind for a corner.
But Carlisle's set-pieces were poor, too often easily claimed by visiting keeper Owen Goodman.
Bevan's pace on the right sometimes caused Furlong discomfort, the defender booked for one foul on the Burnley loanee.
But United were given a major reprieve on 19 minutes when Gabe Breeze spilled a Smith shot into Omar Bugiel's path, but the striker shot over the bar as the flag stayed down.
Matty Stevens then forced a save from United's No1 with a shot that lacked power.
Carlisle remained short of opportunities, even with Wimbledon far from assured themselves, but some good work by Bevan on the right led Dennis's flick to fall for Harris, but he was off balance as he shot well wide for the Blues.
Kadeem Harris on the attack for United (Image: Ben Holmes)
Terell Thomas, stepping out of defence, had the chance to release Bevan but he overhit the pass, with the visitors not pressing Carlisle with any great intensity as the first half went on.
Archie Davies, cutting in from the right, sent a shot over the bar from 20 yards, while at the other end Smith hit the roof of the Warwick Road End after Davies had been dispossessed.
Later in the half Smith shot over the bar for Wimbledon, then for United, Guy's attempt from distance was too straight to worry Goodman.
Half-time was reached with a sense of disillusionment at Brunton Park - and then things got worse.
Wimbledon took just five minutes of the second half to double their lead, Carlisle once more failing to close the visitors down as they broke to the right of the box before Smith volleyed the cross past Breeze.
Hughes sent on Scott for Bevan and the sub saw a back-post header blocked after good work by Harris.
Then, after double substitutions for both sides, Stephen Wearne and Whelan sent on for United, the hosts suddenly got a way back into the game as Harris again beat his man and crossed, and Dennis rose at the back post to head home.
Wimbledon then looked to restore their two-goal lead but sub Myles Hippolyte shot wide when picked out by Josh Neufville 14 minutes from time.
Hippolyte then did well to intercept Whelan's pass for Davies as United looked to maintain their fightback.
Goodman had to backpedal to prevent a miscued Harris cross dipping under the Wimbledon bar.
Hughes then made two more changes, with Georgie Kelly and Embleton replacing Dennis and Jones, with some fans cheering when the latter's number went up.
United tested the visitors with crosses and long throws from Scott, with one delivery from Lavelle almost setting up Scott.
But there was no realistic chance to equalise and Breeze saved a Wimbledon shot in the dying seconds before United's defeat was confirmed.
United: Breeze, Davies, Harper, Lavelle, Thomas, Guy (Whelan 66), Vela (Wearne 66), Jones (Embleton 85), Harris, Bevan (Scott 54), Dennis (G Kelly 85). Not used: Lewis, Hayden.
Goal: Dennis 67.
Booked: Lavelle.
AFC Wimbledon: Goodman, Furlong (Ogundere 65), Johnson, Hutchinson, Lewis, Reeves, Maycock (Hippolyte 65), Neufville, Smith, Bugiel, Stevens (J Kelly 79). Not used: Ward, Browne, Harbottle, Sasu.
Goals: Maycock 2, Smith 50.
Booked: Furlong.
Ref: Martin Woods.
Crowd: 7,050 (511 Wimbledon fans).
