Wimbledon went down 2-1 to Exeter in their penultimate pre-season friendly after a strong display in which they more than matched The Grecians in the first half only to tire on a heavy pitch.

Terry Brown started with the same eleven who started against Woking, with Ryan Jackson playing wide right in a front three and Christian Jolley continuing at left back in the absence of Andre Blackman. Steven Gregory, Luke Moore and Mark Nwokeji were also unavailable through injury and Rashid Yussuf was away for personal reasons. With the possible exception of Nwokeji, all are expected to be available for the final pre-season game against an Arsenal XI on 7 August.

Exeter started the game strongly, with Seb Brown coming off his line smartly to pick up balls hit over the top of the Dons defence. It was no surprise when Exeter took the lead after eleven minutes when the Dons defence played statues following a corner and allowed Daniel Nardiello to steal half a yard and hit a well-struck shot past Brown.

Rather than lose heart, the Dons regrouped and from then on they stifled Exeter's long balls through the middle and were rarely troubled for the remainder of the half.

Exeter had started with three at the back and they were nearly made to pay when first Ryan Jackson got free on the right but overhit his cross. Moments later Jackson linked with Ricky Wellard to set Sam Hatton free. Hatton's strong low cross eluded everyone and reached Jon Main at the far post, allowing him to blood his shiny new white boots and bring the scores equal.

For the remainder of the half the Dons kept possession well. Sammy Moore was at the centre of everything, moving the ball around simply and quickly and allowing the full backs to overlap and threaten, while Wellard looked classy and composed in midfield.

After half time, Paul Tisdale changed his formation and his team emerged with renewed energy. Conversely, the Dons seemed to have lost attention and they struggled to hold Exeter for the first fifteen minutes of the half. Nonetheless, there were chances at both ends and Danny Kedwell went closest for Wimbledon when he spun and hit a vicious shot that rebounded from the 'keeper.

The newly relaid pitch was obviously heavy and Terry Brown's young team were clearly tiring quickly on the cloying surface. After 70 minutes, Christian Jolley chased back to block a right wing break and was unfortunate to see the cross deflect off him to the waiting substitute, Jamie Cureton, who turned expertly and hit the ball into the roof of the net.

Exeter immediately introduced four substitutes while Terry Brown,with only 22 fit players for two games, was restricted to briing on Reece Jones for Lee Minshull. More chances fell to Exeter as Wimbledon searched for an equaliser and while Jon Main was unlucky not to score late in the game, if truth be told it was Exeter who looked more likely to score again.

Overall, Terry Brown will have found much to like in this performance, with League One Exeter comfortably held for much of the first half and at least half a dozen chances created - two of them from new set piece routines, fresh from the training ground. Moore and Wellard were the pick of the bunch, and the defence was very solid until they tired in the last twenty minutes.

And so to the Arsenal game followed by the start of the new season. The Dons look to be nearly ready ...