MK Dons ran out 4-1 winners over Brackley Town in their penultimate friendly of the summer.
Karl Robinson’s side enjoyed total domination over their Skrill Conference North opponents and deservedly won the contest courtesy of goals from Ben Reeves, Will Grigg, Tom Hitchcock and Mark Randall.
Robinson opted to start with the same side which began the friendly with Nottingham Forest, one which included striker Grigg, who almost put the Dons in front after just four minutes but he couldn’t quite connect with Danny Green’s low cross.
A minute later, Dean Lewington produced a strong save out of the Brackley keeper with a swerving left-footed strike from distance before Dean Bowditch headed over from another inviting cross by Green.
Robinson’s men were playing up to their role as favourites and their early dominance finally paid-off when Reeves struck home from Lewington’s cutback in the 16th minute. The Dons’ number 10 reacted quickly to latch onto the cross before lifting his shot over the Saints goalie.
On the half hour, Grigg went close with a flicked shot which bounced just wide of the post. The man on loan from Brentford did find the back of the net, however, on 34 minutes, showing great composure deep inside the box to place a shot past the keeper and into the far corner.
At half-time, Robinson made 10 changes to his side with winger Powell the only player to survive, having only been brought on at the half hour in place of Bowditch. The Dons’ second-half side included two trialists and free agent Jay McEveley, who has also been training with the Club this summer.
Three minutes into the second period, Powell had a chance to increase the Dons’ advantage but, after racing onto Mark Randall’s perfectly weighted through-ball, the winger fired off target.
Giorgio Rasulo also shot wide of the post soon after, this time with a curling effort from the corner of the box.
One of the replacements at half-time, Hitchcock, came into the game having already scored four goals this pre-season and he added to that total in the 51st minute with a brilliant finish into the top corner of the net, after racing onto a through-ball.
In the 55th minute, Randall saw a dipping free-kick bounce off the crossbar while, at the other end, Charlie Burns was called upon to prevent Brackley reducing the deficit with a smart save.
Tilney then went close with a low shot which the Saints stopper did well to stop before Baldock fired just wide of the post after a one-two with one of the trialists inside the box.
Midway through the second half, Hitchcock hit the underside of the crossbar as he went in search of his second of the afternoon. A combination of Will Summerfield and Burns then prevented Brackley from scoring after a goal-mouth scramble inside the six-yard box.
As the game neared its conclusion, the Dons were able to add a fourth goal to the scoreline, a goal which came courtesy of the cheekiest of finishes from Randall, who lobbed the Brackley keeper from more than 35 yards out.
The hosts, to their credit, continued to push the Dons and they were rewarded with a consolation goal in stoppage time courtesy of Will Green.
MK Dons first half: Martin; Hodson, McFadzean, Kay, Lewington (c); Potter, Alli; Green, Reeves, Bowditch (Powell 30); Grigg.
MK Dons second half: Burns; Baldock, Hickford, McEveley (Summerfield 66), Tilney; Randall, Trialist; Powell, Trialist, Rasulo; Hitchcock.
Goals: Reeves 16 Grigg 34, Hitchcock 51, Randall 84.
Robinson opted to start with the same side which began the friendly with Nottingham Forest, one which included striker Grigg, who almost put the Dons in front after just four minutes but he couldn’t quite connect with Danny Green’s low cross.
A minute later, Dean Lewington produced a strong save out of the Brackley keeper with a swerving left-footed strike from distance before Dean Bowditch headed over from another inviting cross by Green.
Robinson’s men were playing up to their role as favourites and their early dominance finally paid-off when Reeves struck home from Lewington’s cutback in the 16th minute. The Dons’ number 10 reacted quickly to latch onto the cross before lifting his shot over the Saints goalie.
On the half hour, Grigg went close with a flicked shot which bounced just wide of the post. The man on loan from Brentford did find the back of the net, however, on 34 minutes, showing great composure deep inside the box to place a shot past the keeper and into the far corner.
At half-time, Robinson made 10 changes to his side with winger Powell the only player to survive, having only been brought on at the half hour in place of Bowditch. The Dons’ second-half side included two trialists and free agent Jay McEveley, who has also been training with the Club this summer.
Three minutes into the second period, Powell had a chance to increase the Dons’ advantage but, after racing onto Mark Randall’s perfectly weighted through-ball, the winger fired off target.
Giorgio Rasulo also shot wide of the post soon after, this time with a curling effort from the corner of the box.
One of the replacements at half-time, Hitchcock, came into the game having already scored four goals this pre-season and he added to that total in the 51st minute with a brilliant finish into the top corner of the net, after racing onto a through-ball.
In the 55th minute, Randall saw a dipping free-kick bounce off the crossbar while, at the other end, Charlie Burns was called upon to prevent Brackley reducing the deficit with a smart save.
Tilney then went close with a low shot which the Saints stopper did well to stop before Baldock fired just wide of the post after a one-two with one of the trialists inside the box.
Midway through the second half, Hitchcock hit the underside of the crossbar as he went in search of his second of the afternoon. A combination of Will Summerfield and Burns then prevented Brackley from scoring after a goal-mouth scramble inside the six-yard box.
As the game neared its conclusion, the Dons were able to add a fourth goal to the scoreline, a goal which came courtesy of the cheekiest of finishes from Randall, who lobbed the Brackley keeper from more than 35 yards out.
The hosts, to their credit, continued to push the Dons and they were rewarded with a consolation goal in stoppage time courtesy of Will Green.
MK Dons first half: Martin; Hodson, McFadzean, Kay, Lewington (c); Potter, Alli; Green, Reeves, Bowditch (Powell 30); Grigg.
MK Dons second half: Burns; Baldock, Hickford, McEveley (Summerfield 66), Tilney; Randall, Trialist; Powell, Trialist, Rasulo; Hitchcock.
Goals: Reeves 16 Grigg 34, Hitchcock 51, Randall 84.
