Sutton United 1-2 AFC Wimbledon

As Terry Brown was on a south-coast scouting mission, the missing piece to his Dons jigsaw was handing out a master-class slightly closer to home.

The Wimbledon manager missed his side’s most competent pre-season performance yet, but the excellent attacking football he has been crowing about all summer wasn’t the only thing to escape his eye.

Brown was in Brighton watching a less-than impressive showing from one of the club’s transfer targets, turning out for Albion’s reserves. Perhaps he should have saved his petrol.

Frenchman Daniel-François Bocandé was looking to prove his worth and he certainly showed it with the winning goal and an exceptional link up with Jon Main to give the Dons management team food for thought.

Assistant manager Stuart Cash said: “He’s a talented boy and we’re taking a look.

“I’m not 100 per cent certain what the state of play is with him, but we are going to speak to his agent as soon as possible.

“It’s no secret we’re looking for another forward. Terry is down in Brighton looking at one of their boys but I’ve spoken to him and apparently he didn’t set the world alight so we’re leaving that one there.

“We’ve got other irons in the fire so we’ll see what happens. But Daniel tonight has given us both something to really think about.”

Sutton broke the deadlock five minutes in after Craig Dundas latched on to Craig Davis’ raking pass. The big forward was upended by Alan Inns and a penalty awarded. Davis did the rest from the spot but the game soon swung thanks to the visitors’ targetman.

He was a menace in the box, forcing Sutton’s Karim El Salahi into an unconvincing clearance – the ball went straight to Elliott Godfrey 20-yards out whose volley was simply sensational to level in style.

Before long, Wimbledon marched ahead. Bocandé showed his class to win the ball back from El Salahi before roasting the defender to score effortlessly past helpless Paul Nicholls.

The Sutton keeper did manage to stop Sam Hatton soon after, brilliantly blocking the midfielder’s fierce free kick to keep the hosts in it.

The second half was riddled with substitutions but the Dons 15-year-old goalkeeper Jack Turner stole the show.

First he did well to drag Davis wide when well placed for an effort of goal and later, from the towering Dundas, saved point-blank to preserve the lead and finally get the Dons pre-season motoring.

“This type of performance has been a long time coming and some of the things today will certainly please our manager when he returns,” added Cash.