Wealdstone made it tough, but AFC Wimbledon's experience and quality eventually told as they ground out victory on a drizzly night at Northwood Park.

By the time Richard Jolly tapped in from a dubiously offside position on 3 minutes, the Stones had already hit the post.

A rare error by Dons keeper Andy Little led to the equalizer on 32 minutes.

In a moment akin to the works of Coco the Clown, Little fumbled an innocuous cross and then handled outside the box. Former Don Lee O'Leary thrashed a well-worked free kick routine past the hapless stopper.

The visitors regained the lead against the run of play before the break. Steve Ferguson ran through two tackles before being hauled down in the box by Jomo Faal-Thomas. Daniel Webb tucked the spot kick away, his first goal for the club.

Dons' boss Terry Brown clearly roused his troops at half time and it was one-way traffic throughout the second period.

Jolly and Webb were denied by good saves from Mitch Swain, Rob Quinn's header cannoned off the crossbar and Sam Hatton watched his twenty yard effort thunder off the foot of the post.

Last year this fixture would have had draw written all over it. Yet, even when the Dons weren't playing well first half they still engineered a goal. In the end they could and perhaps should have won by more.

Early signs for the South West London club are good, but they're still early signs...

Team list
AFC Wimbledon

1. Andy Little
2. Luke Garrard
3. Michael Haswell
4. Robert Quinn
5. Jason Goodliffe - captain
6. Jake Leberl
7. Steve Ferguson (replaced by 15)
8. Sam Hatton
9. Daniel Webb
10. Richard Jolly
11. Anthony Finn (replaced by 12)
12. Karl Beckford (replaced 11)
13. Paul Seuke
14. Richard Butler
15. Kevin Warner (replaced 7)
16. Antony Howard