View from Kingsmeadow, Volume 44: Dons Are Ready To Start

Watch out, Steve Evans and Crawley Town. Terry Brown and AFC Wimbledon have you in their cross-hairs this weekend.

The Dons wrapped up their preseason campaign with a couple of matches: one against a Football League Championship side, the other against a run-of-the-mill non-League club.

The Football League Championship team in question: Sean Dyche's Watford Football Club, who finished 14th in their league last season. The run-of-the-mill side in question: Tooting and Mitcham United.

On Saturday, the Dons pulled off a solid confidence booster of a result: 2-1 over the Hornets. Luke Moore scored a brace in the 40th and 55th minutes, while John Eustace scored in the 13th minute.

This may have only been a friendly, but if AFC Wimbledon were to record these results on a week to week basis, they will not only avoid the drop this year, but they will take a stab at possible promotion. The Wombles are a club in it for the long haul.

And punters, perhaps the likes of Cheltenham Town might be better suited for your relegation bookmaking. According to Oddschecker.com, they and Macclesfield Town are 10:3 favorites to earn the drop.

"After Saturday's good display against a strong Watford side we resumed training today without Lee Minshull, who picked up a dead leg, Jamie Stuart, who suffered a heavy fall on his back, Gareth Gwillim who suffered a knock on his shoulder, and Charles Ademeno who is still suffering from a bruised heel," Brown told reporters on Monday. "However, James Mulley resumed light training today and hopefully will move on to participate in full training this week.

"We had a really pleasing bonus in the early return of Mat Mitchel-King who participated in some light jogging under the guidance of Mike Rayner. Mat is not one who will try to rush back, owing to the severity of glandular fever, but from a layman's point of view I was really pleased in that I thought he looked quite well and not like someone who has had a draining serious illness.

"Turning to our final preseason match [against Tooting and Mitcham United], we are looking to play several first teamers tomorrow in the game at Tooting with run outs for Jack Turner, Chris Bush, Ryan Jackson, Sammy Moore, Reece Jones, Brendan Kiernan and hopefully Charles Ademeno. We had hoped that Minshull would play but we won't rush him with an injury like that.

"This is our last game before our season starts, earlier than we would have liked, with a game at Crawley on Friday night. But it is the same for both teams and we go into it in excellent spirits."

Once again, the Dons would cash in, recording a 2-1 victory over Tooting. Scorers for both sides were unavailable as this article went to press.

Wimbledon finish their preseason with a record of six wins, no defeats and one draw. However, that can all turn into an aberration if it doesn't translate into a result against League Two favorites Crawley on Friday, July 29.

Kickoff at the Broadfirld Stadium in the preliminary round of the 2011-12 Football League Cup is scheduled for 11:45 p.m. PT/2:45 p.m. ET.

On Saturday, August 6, the Dons play their first-ever league game as AFC Wimbledon when they clash with Bristol Rovers, a side that will look to push Crawley for top honors in League Two. Kickoff at Kingsmeadow is scheduled for 4:45 a.m. PT/7:45 a.m. ET.