If he had any nerves, Wimbledon's stand-off Bryan Croke did not show them as he calmly converted a 35m penalty for a last-minute, 18-16 victory over Colchester.

It was just about a deserved win, if only because Wimbledon played 30 minutes of the match with 14 men after prop Jesse Muir was yellow carded for his over-enthusiastic tackle from the kick-off and a little harshly for a second yellow, therefore red, with a quarter of the game to go.

But it was hardly a vintage performance and Dons were lucky that Colchester did not punish their often poor decision-making and basic errors.

The consensus, however, was that if Wimbledon can play this badly and still sneak a win, future prospects in National League Three look good.

The match-winner Croke opened the scoring too, with a trademark chip ahead and touchdown, plus conversion, after some penetrating pick and drive play by the pack.

But with Wimbledon’s front row struggling against their much shorter opposite numbers, Colchester’s wealth of possession meant much of the game was played in Dons’ half and the visitors got within a point through a drop goal and penalty.

For the rest of the half Wimbledon played some sloppy rugby until near the whistle when scrum half Rhys Morgan salvaged the ball from a fast-retreating scrum to put the backs away and fullback Kieran Morris made a lovely break to score a good try.

Five minutes into the second half a Croke penalty conversion put Dons 15-6 ahead, but still they did not settle and Colchester, sensing an opportunity, forced the home team back into their own half time and again.

They clawed back three points and then, with 10 minutes remaining, quick ball from a 5m Colchester scrum saw them scythe through the Dons' defence to score under the posts for a simple conversion and a one point lead.

Wimbledon at last looked lively in a hectic final few minutes and a fine run by flanker-cum-prop Roy Godfrey was just one of several moves snuffed out metres short of the try-line.

But they persevered, won a penalty and Croke did the necessary, the win taking Dons up to ninth in the 14-strong league.

Away at second-placed London Irish Wild Geese next week the opposition will not be so forgiving of Wimbledon mistakes.