Terry Brown would have had a clearer idea of his starting XI for the beginning of the Blue Square Bet Premier campaign after Wimbledon extended their winning run to five out of six in pre-season. Apart from trying to keep his key players injury-free until 14 August, Brown’s only real dilemma at present appears to be how he can retain the best of his talented young trialists and stay within budget.

Fortunately, the list of those nursing an injury only increased by one. Centre-back Ed Harris was forced off just after half an hour, but his injury was not a serious one. The Dons finally got on top of this meeting with their tenants, pulling away in the second period after a competitive first 45 minutes.

Meetings between these two clubs have come in many different guises over the years, and this one was part of the deal that took “Mr Versatile” Christian Jolley from Ks to Dons in May. For the first half, Brown wanted to look at the younger members of his squad who are looking to play a part in Wimbledon’s historic first full-time Conference season. The formation remained 4-3-3, but the pool of players rotated again after Saturday’s four-goal Danny Kedwell show at Woking.

In front of keeper Jack Turner was a back four of Ryan Jackson, captain for the start Fraser Franks, fellow trialist Harris and Jordaan Browne. Another youth product, Harry Knock, got a chance in midfield, alongside Reece Jones and Rashid Yussuff. The front line was a mixture of trialists and youth: Delano Sam-Yorke, Karl Douglin and a new name keen to make an impression - Orlando Smith, well-travelled on the southern non-League circuit. Billy Hussey (brother of Chris) was on trial and on the bench.

Although the back line didn’t have to face absent golden boot winner Bobby Traynor, threats still materialised - eventually. The Dons had the first opportunity of note when Smith’s cross/shot went across the face of goal. Kingstonian responded soon after, when on 12 minutes Turner was twice called into action - struggling to pick out the first attempt, and watching the second go over the bar.

The ball was played into Douglin in the six-yard area, and Ks keeper Rob Tolfrey had to get down to deal with it. A couple of interesting battles ran through the half, Dean Lodge ultimately getting the better of a frustrated Browne down the left wing, and Knock contesting with Adam Thompson in midfield. This almost paid dividends for Kingstonian when Lodge broke away and got the ball to Thompson, but his effort eluded both Turner and the goal.

Soon after, Sam-Yorke finished up in the back of the net instead of the ball after a decent right-sided move. On 24 minutes Jones pinged a long-range shot just over Tolfrey’s bar, and ten minutes later Harris left the field with a knock to his ankle.

The first half wound up in end-to-end fashion. Carl Wilson-Denis and Thompson failed to capitalise on more carving runs by Lodge, while at the Kingston Road End Yussuff forced a close-range save from Tolfrey, which was followed by a powerful header from Ismail Yakubu, on for Harris. For all Kingstonian’s efforts, though, the Dons should have gone in one-up. Two minutes before the whistle, Sam-Yorke broke into the six-yard box, doing all the hard work before presenting Tolfrey with the ball.

The second half was very different story, as Wimbledon gradually changed to a more senior line-up. Left-back Andre Blackman began the half, after going off at Corinthian-Casuals a week ago, and was joined by Lee Minshull and Ricky Wellard in midfield with Jolley on to face his former team-mates and Jon Main pressed up front. Ten minutes into the half a fantastic drive from Wellard after a free-kick drew a fine one-handed save from Tolfrey.

Kingstonian’s efforts on goal dried up as their landlords took full control. On the hour Jackson flashed an effort across the face of goal; Main then created an opportunity through the middle, but he took his time and left the ball for a colleague, squandering the chance. Sam Hatton, Brett Johnson and Kedwell were introduced. Twenty minutes from the end the Dons broke through, and there was little Tolfrey could do as Yussuff’s great ball found Main, whose predatory instincts kicked in as he fired the ball in to the net.

A shot from Minshull caused Tolfrey to juggle the ball in an attempt to save after 71 minutes. Five minutes later the midfielder stole in at the post for the decisive goal from close range, after a Wimbledon move down the right side. Blackman down the left and Jolley down the right continued to make life difficult for the Kingstonian defence right up to the final whistle.