WIMBLEDON went top for the first time since the early days of last season despite failing to find their best form at Queen Street.

It was a mixed display from Dave Anderson's injury- and flu-ravaged side - only able to name four substitutes after more withdrawals this week. But the Dons dominated the first hour and will feel frustrated that they failed to kill-off Horsham before the hosts' brave fightback.

Wimbledon were going for a sixth win on the bounce but they weren't helped by yet another poor performance from the man in the middle. His decision not even to have a quite word in Lewis Taylor's ear for his third-minute lunge on Wes Daly set the Dons' fans howling in disbelief. They believed former Don Taylor went in two-footed and deserved a red - not so said the whistle-blower who restarted the game with a dropped ball.

Wimbledon soon had two chances - both from corners - and were unlucky not to go ahead. First, Roscoe Dsane lost his balance mid-air and his header sailed over Alan Mansfield's crossbar. Then defender Paul Lorraine rose highest in the box following another excellent Mickey Haswell delivery. But the former Fisher and Braintree man couldn't guide his header on target as the away team pressed.

Dsane on the break nearly found a way through and moments later Lorraine with a near carbon-copy of his first opportunity this time found the target. Mansfield though was equal to it, saving low after Lorraine got the better of Jacob Mingle in the air.

The Wimbledon pressure eventually told after the break and they raced ahead. The fast-improving Wes Daly, the engine room once more, started the move and Steve Wales' give-and-go with Dsane opened Horsham up - Wales cashed in on the strikers' vision with a composed finish for 1-0.

But the goal gave John Maggs' Hornets fresh impetus and they rallied to final awake from a desperately poor first hour. They found an equaliser after John Westcott's hurried cross got lost in a six-yard box melee - the ball finally found its way to striker Lee Carney and he dispatched the chance as the Dons' defence dithered.

Both sides had further chances but the introduction of Chris Gell gave Wimbledon the cutting edge in midfield. First he sent a shot from outside of the box whistling past Mansfield's post and then the goalkeeper's finger-tips denied Gell a 22-yard blockbuster.

But at the other end Horsham were still dangerous. Gary Charman's fierce shot after Steve Butler's poor clearance brought out the best in Andy Little and his reflex save two minutes from time took Wimbledon to the top of the table by preserving the point.