Withdean's renaissance will have to wait a bit longer after they were beaten 4-2 by Combined Counties League pace-setters AFC Wimbledon at Worthing.

It was their fourth defeat in four matches following a summer of turmoil which left last season's champions without a promotion ticket and minus all but three players from their title-winning side.

There is light, however, at the end of the tunnel if they can keep promising young players like 16-year-old John Standing, brother of former England starlet and Aston Villa player Michael, and add a little more experience and steel to their current squad.

For a good 40 minutes, while the score was at 2-1 to the visitors, Withdean were still in with a shout, albeit not a very loud one as Wimbledon, who have now won four out of four, dominated proceedings.

They were finally undone by a player less than two minutes into his Wimbledon career.

Michael Rootes, a diminutive midfielder signed in the close-season from Tooting, clipped the ball past goalkeeper Michael Oakley after a neat interchange with Kevin Cooper just after coming on as a 70th-minute substitute.

Which will be news to the massed ranks of Wimbledon supporters in the 1,000-plus crowd who greeted the goal with chants of "Who are you!"

After that, there was no way back for Withdean, who were incensed five minutes later when Wade Falana bundled the ball over the line to make it 4-1 after Oakley had appeared to hold on to Seb Favata's free-kick.

It meant Shaun Grice's 30-yard screamer in the 89th minute was no more than a consolation, but at least it showed Withdean have plenty of spirit.

Wimbledon were two up in 16 minutes, a rare headed goal by the prolific Cooper from ex-Midhurst man Steve Gibson's cross sending them on their way, followed by Joe Sheerin's diving header.

Withdean's reply came after 32 minutes when Dave Walker marked his home debut by heading past Ray Merry.