The Dons were lucky to draw 1-1 on Saturday afternoon as National League South side Weymouth pushed us all the way.
Ayoub Assal got Wimbledon off to the perfect start five minutes into the tie, but from then onwards we failed to kick-on and were duly punished.
The hosts saw various presentable opportunities go amiss, before Ahkeem Rose fired in a free-kick for a deserved equaliser.
We now have the prospect of a replay to contend with at Plough Lane as we bid to reach the second round of the FA Cup after a performance that wasn’t up to the standards expected.
Johnnie Jackson made eight changes to the side which drew at Portsmouth as the likes of Josh Davison, Harry Pell and Chris Gunter returned to the starting 11.
Meanwhile, defender Jola Lahan was handed a call-up to the bench after performing superbly for our Under-18s in the 5-0 win over Lewes on Thursday. David Fisher also made his return from injury.
It was a quick start from the Dons and it was one which resulted in us taking the lead after barely five minutes.
A long ball forward from Pell sent Assal clear with our number 10 taking the simple task of dinking past the onrushing Zaki Oualah in his stride.
Despite the early setback, Weymouth still posed a threat and had their first opportunity after 20 minutes as Ahkeem Rose fired a daisy cutter at Nik Tzanev.
A more direct approach was paying dividends for our side with Davison also coming close to sniffing out a chance as he ran in behind.
It was the hosts who had the better of the play in the opening knockings of the second-half as Tzanev was forced into his first meaningful save of the afternoon as he kept out Dan Matsuzaka’s header.
However, the warning signs weren’t heeded by our side and as the 70th minute came about so did Weymouth’s goal as Rose fired in a free-kick that our keeper got a touch to.
The Dons looked to respond immediately but Davison could only fire wide despite having time and space.
Keelan O’Connell then took a shot on from roughly 30 yards as the hosts looked to sneak a winner in the dying minutes.
In the end nothing could separate the two sides, but it was Weymouth who certainly left the happier as we head to a replay later this month.
AFC Wimbledon: Nik Tzanev, Chris Gunter, Alex Woodyard, Harry Pell, Josh Davison (Quaine Bartley), Ayoub Assal, Ryley Towler, Paris Maghoma (Alfie Bendle), Courtney Senior (David Fisher), Jack Currie, Paul Kalambayi.
PICS: Graham Hunt (Pro Sports Images)