AFC Wimbledon were given a harsh lesson on their Football League debut as a late penalty condemned them to a 3-2 defeat at home to Bristol Rovers.

Adam Virgo’s spot kick five minutes from time came after the Dons had fought hard to come back from 2-0 down, Jamie Stuart and debutant Charles Ademeno scoring the club’s first goals in the professional ranks.

At times, the Dons competed and showed they can be a force in the league, but there were too many mistakes in what was always going to be a tough opening fixture at one of the favourites for the league.

Captain Stuart scored the Dons’ first goal in the Football League but by that time they were already two goals down after defensive mistakes.

Both times the Dons were caught wanting too much time on the ball, learning the hard way that space and time are much harder to find in the professional leagues than in the Conference.

After 17 minutes, Seb Brown’s rushed throw to Ricky Wellard saw the midfielder robbed by Pirates captain Matt Gill, who set Scott McGleish through on goal and he kept his cool to beat Brown.

The Dons looked shell-shocked but didn’t learn from their mistakes and were soon 2-0 down.

This time, they tried to be too intricate in midfield and Brett Johnson had the ball nicked off him by McGleish on the half way line. McGleish tore down on goal and though his first shot was saved by Brown, the ball rebounded to him and he crossed for Matt Harrold to score via Sam Hatton’s knee.

Wimbledon were all over the place defensively but got back in the game before half time thanks to Stuart’s historic header from Hatton’s free kick writing his name into the record books.

Before that, Luke Moore should have scored when he found himself one-on-one with Scott Bevan only for the big keeper to block his shot, the same as he did with an early chance for Christian Jolley.

It could have been worse by the break as Brown tipped a header on to the cross bar and Hatton somehow blocked Harrold’s goalbound effort.

Manager Terry Brown, who celebrated his 59th birthday on Friday, had a face like thunder going into the changing room and Wimbledon responded to whatever he said after the break.

They were much more competitive but struggled to make a clean cut chance.

Indeed, it was Rovers who came closest as Brown made a super save from Gill’s fierce shot.

Jolley had been the biggest threat but was withdrawn for Ademeno midway through the second half as the Dons went 4-4-2 in search of an equaliser.

It proved an inspired substitution from Brown as Ademeno latched on to fellow sub Lee Minshull’s knock down to turn and shoot past Bevan just two minutes later.

Suddenly, Kingsmeadow was rocking again and the party atmosphere returned.

There was a spring in the players’ steps and the crowd, and Terry Brown, started to cheer and clap every pass and tackle.

That said, they continued to look nervous at the back and were almost caught out twice more when wanting more time than they had.

It was down to Brown to prevent them going behind again, as Joe Kuffour escaped Johnson and Brown had to save at his legs.

He then produced another good save to deny Mustapha Carayol’s header from point blank range as Rovers began to exert their dominance again and Wimbledon tired.

He could do nothing with five minutes left though as Johnson was penalised for handball from a free kick, though he protested he was pushed. Adam Virgo took responsibility and sent Brown the wrong way, scoring in the top corner.

Although Wimbledon pressed for an equaliser it was Brown who was called into action, again denying Kuffour as Rovers hit them on the break.

Deep into injury time there was one last chance but substitute Chris Bush volleyed Minshull’s deep cross over the bar from an acute angle.

It wasn’t the result many fans would have wanted but they were still clapping at the end and just glad to see the club back where it belongs.