Midfielder Elliott Godfrey has admitted that AFC Wimbledon still have plenty of work to do if they are to make a splash in the Blue Square South this season.

Godfrey was on target on Saturday as the Dons slipped to a 2-1 defeat at Hayes and Yeading, their first loss of the campaign.

And after seeing his side fall from first to third in the table in the space of a game, the former Hampton & Richmond man agreed the early season going had caught him by surprise.

Godfrey said: “To be ten games in and have a record like ours and still only be third in the table is a real eye-opener.

“We knew it was going to be tough before the season started but I don’t think people realised just how tough.

“If you have an off day you are likely to get punished.”

And it was an off day for the Dons at the weekend as they suffered at the hands of their top-of-the-table rivals.

Godfrey added: “Obviously everybody was disappointed but it was probably a fair result.

“We did not perform to the level we can.

“We tried to play and work hard but things just did not happen.”

AFC now switch attention to the FA Cup this weekend when they travel to Bedford in the Second Qualifying Round.

And Godfrey, who enjoyed a run to the First Round proper whilst with Hampton last year, is looking for a similar success story this time round.

He added: “Everyone wants to do well in the FA Cup.

“We want to have a real go at it.

“If you get to the proper rounds it can only be good for a football club.

“You get seen by lots of different people and it puts the spotlight on the players.”

AFC Wimbledon’s next three matches: Sep 27 Bedford (FA Cup, a), Oct 4 Worcester (a), 7 Erith (LSC, h)