View from Kingsmeadow, Volume One: Storming the Gates

This is a new feature to the View from Victoria Street, following AFC Wimbledon's progress in the 2010-11 Football Conference National.

Terry Brown's AFC Wimbledon's meteoric rise from the ashes has seen them on the doorstep of the Football League.

From the Combined Counties to the Isthmian to the Conference South, the Dons continue to provide a consistent product on the field for their supporters, who own the club as a whole, at the Cherry Red Rocords Stadium at Kingsmeadow.

Last year, in their first season playing in the top tier of non-League foootball, AFC Wimbledon finished just outside of the Conference National playoffs in eighth place.

This year, they look to improve on their finish and content for a chance to play at Wembley, if not take it all ahead of favorites like Crawley, Mansfield, and Luton Town.

Last Saturday, after a successful preseason which saw the club finish with a 9-2 season and a 4-0 over Woking in the Phil Ledger Memorial Cup, the Dons began their season against Conference South champions Southport, managed by Liam Watson.

"Southport enter the Conference Premier as champions on the back of a fantastic season and with one of the most experienced non-league managers at the helm," Brown said prior to the match. "Therefore, we expect a very difficult afternoon as we welcome back the fans to the excitement of a new season.

"I have had the good fortune to play against Southport at Haig Avenue on many occasions. It is a beautiful ground with a lovely pitch and let's hope we come away from there in good spirits as we look forward to the start of what we hope will be an exciting and productive season for the Dons."

While Southport goalkeeper Tony McMillan made life difficult for the Dons to score, their patience and perseverance paid off with a 72nd minute goal by substitute Christian Jolley to give AFC Wimbledon a 1-0 victory.

"Our opening fixture at Southport certainly proved to be a real challenge," Brown said after the match. "Southport's direct-style football caused us problems throughout most of the match and when executed well it is a very difficult system to play against.

"First games are notoriously difficult to gauge but I was delighted with the effort, teamwork and workrate that our boys put in on the day. The three points will give the boys an added boost going into two home games where we shall be looking for a maximum return if possible."

On Tuesday, AFC Wimbledon began their home campaign against Conference stalwarts Histon, managed by John Beck. They would be without the services of Lee Minshull, who picked up a red card late in the match against Southport and would serve the first of three matches.

It looked to be nothing more than a goalless draw until late the match, when Histon's Oluwafemi Ilesanmi earned his second yellow card in the 82nd minute of play.

Adding salt to the wounds of the Stutes was a tackle by Remy Clerima on Danny Kedwell, who forms a lethal offensive combination with Jon Main.

Before the season began, Crawley Town tried to buy Kedwell away from the Dons. But the deal fell through, and it paid off with a penalty kick in the 93rd minute to make it 1-0.

To add insult to injury for the visitors, Ricky Wellard scored an insurance goal on a breakaway in the 94th minute of play.

"The big thing for me was the fans," Brown said after the match. "I have been here when they have got on top of the players, when they were as impatient as hell. They kept patient and they were rewarded. It reminds me of the goals we scored at the beginning of our Blue Square South campaign a couple of years ago.

"We made a habit of scoring some late goals. I never thought they were going to come tonight. We didn't do enough second half but we got the goals when it mattered and you can't be anything except happy with that.

“I do think Histon came here and tried to play. (Manager) John Beck has his team playing a certain way so credit goes to them, they did well until the last minute. I told our players at half-time that it may take until the 90th minute and so it proved.”

In a league like the Football Conference, where there are only two spots up for grabs for promotion, the importance of earning victories cannot be stressed further.

And while it may two down, 46 more to go for the Wombles, this could be the beginning of big things to come from this fans' club as they continue their push for the Football League.

Next Saturday, AFC Wimbledon will host Tamworth F.C. Kickoff is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. ET. They will then travel to Rushden to face Rushden & Diamonds F.C. on Aug. 24. Kickoff is scheduled for 2:45 p.m. ET.