After the relaxed and gentle ‘contests’ of pre-season with multiple substitutions and not a tackle in anger, the real business started with the visit of a powerful looking AFC Wimbledon side brimming with quality and containing several players who are of proven quality at this level.  It was going to be a severe test of County’s credentials with only three of the home 16 having previously played a competitive game for the Exiles.  Unfortunately, in the words of Dean Holdsworth it was to prove “a reality check.”

The Gaffer’s selection contained no surprises with the faithful trio of goalkeeper Glyn Thompson, skipper Ian Hillier at centre back and record appearance maker Nathan Davies in midfield.  Former Redbridge full-backs Kevin Stephens and Dave Collins earned the nod over player-coach Steve Jenkins and Paul Keddle while Martyn Giles was chosen alongside Hillier in the centre of defence.  Davies was partnered by Adie Harris in central midfield with Danny Rose and Kevin Cooper chosen for the wider positions, while Rob Duffy led the attack with most recent signing Jamal Easter playing just in behind him.

Despite the driving rain, Newport Stadium looked a picture with a packed terrace divided almost equally between County and Dons’ fans.  Wimbledon supporters travelled in the anticipated numbers and added much to the occasion, providing a superb atmosphere.  Fortunately the considerable police presence was able to enjoy the game and the local constabulary will be reassured at the ability of the club to stage such a game in perfect harmony.

For 30 minutes it was a phoney war with neither side committing too much into forward areas.  Wimbledon played a slightly narrower version of 4-4-2 with wide player Anthony Finn alongside the prolific Jon Main in attack and the experienced Tom Davis and Elliott Godfrey looking to dominate central midfield.  Davis had home supporters holding their breath with a 20 yard cross shot which flew past the post and Thompson had to react superbly to keep out an effort from Godfrey.  County had their moments during this tentative opening period and referee Paul Forrester was far too hasty awarding a home free-kick near the corner of the penalty area.  Collins was already free and though his cross was headed in by Duffy by then the whistle had sounded and Wimbledon had switched off.  Dons keeper Andy Little was almost embarrassed when he touched a cross from Rose onto the crossbar and the former Crawley number one had to scramble across goal to paw away a long range effort from Easter.

Main was giving notice of his attacking threat and Thompson had to make two fine saves from him before Wimbledon broke the deadlock.  Left-back Michael Haswell took a throw-in on the left and collected a return pass before launching a cross into the Newport goalmouth, where MAIN lost his marker and gave Thompson no chance with his 39th minute downward header.  The County keeper was already overworked and he prevented Alan Inns adding to the advantage with more acrobatics before half-time.

If Wimbledon were good value for their interval lead they tightened their grip on the game after the break with some fluent interpassing and County were engaged largely in firefighting to prevent further damage.  Stephens was close to an equaliser with a 57th minute header from a Collins free-kick, but seconds later MAIN doubled the lead with a brilliant goal.  He collected the ball on the Wimbledon right, drew a challenge and blasted a rocket of a shot that even the redoubtable Thompson could not get near.  All of the noise was now coming from the away contingent and they soon had cause for further celebration when County partially cleared a corner and MAIN once again found space in behind the home defence to complete a 71st minute hat-trick.  There was no respite for the home side and possibilities of a record defeat were looming when FINN matched the quality of his partner’s finishing when he collected a pass from Godfrey and placed the ball beyond Thompson to make it 4-0 in the 74th minute.

County did manage to gain a small consolation when substitute Paul Hall had a shot deflected onto the post in the 80th minute.  Easter squared the loose ball across the goal where left-back COLLINS had moved forward to score with an emphatic shot from 10 yards.  There could be no complaint from the home fans at the result and Wimbledon were entitled to feel very satisfied with their first experience of Blue Square South.  Their manager Terry Brown sounded a word of caution however, though there was no concealing his delight at the outcome.

“You get a lot of strange results on the opening day of the season and I wouldn’t read too much into the performance on one day.  The ball ran for us today;” he added with more than a hint of diplomacy.

Of his ‘Main Man’, Brown said: “If he is given chances he will always score and his second goal today was wonderful.”

His County counterpart knows his newly-assembled squad has to adjust quickly to life at this level, but he has faith in both his own ability and that of the players: “It is not the end of the world and we have to keep together and stay strong.  This was a wake-up call for us and at the moment it is hurting.  They gave us a lesson in finishing.”

Man of the Match:

County: Glyn Thompson (without whom it would definitely have been much worse)

Wimbledon: Jon Main (without whom it might just have been much better for County anyway).