The Dons' U18s continued their unbeaten home run after coming from behind to beat Southend United in another high-scoring match at Woughton-on-the-Green on Saturday morning.
A hat-trick from Kabongo Tshimanga plus further goals from Kevin Owusu and Kyran Wiltshire helped the Dons to a 5-3 victory - their eighth home win in all competitions this season.
The hosts made two changes from the side that beat Dagenham and Redbridge the previous Saturday with Jack Hadden and Kabongo Tshimanga replacing Dominic Palmiero and Sam Nombe.
The Dons got off to the best possible start as they took the lead five minutes in through a breakaway effort after a Southend move broke down.
The dangerous Tshimanga ran forward with the ball before squaring into the box to his strike partner for the day, Owusu, who finished comfortably from close range to make it 1-0.
It was an all-action opening to the game as the visitors levelled on nine minutes from a corner-kick. Despite an impressive close-range block from Dons keeper Andrew McCorkell from the initial Shrimpers effort, they put the rebound into the net past the stranded McCorkell to make it 1-1.
The first twist of an unpredictable game came on 15 minutes after a long ball from left to right found a Southend player on the flank. The cross was then converted and the team from Essex surprisingly led 2-1.
Five minutes later the visitors extended their lead after another long ball forward found a Shrimpers player who had got in behind. He then finished well to make it 3-1 and leave the Dons scratching their heads.
The hosts reduced the arrears five minutes before the break after the U18s’ star of the season, Tshimanga, notching his latest goal by bundling in from close range to reduce the deficit to 3-2.
An incredible first half was then completed as the Dons levelled proceedings moments before the break through Tshimanga's second of the match. After receiving a flick-on, Tshimanga did well to stretch out his leg and direct the ball past the advancing Southend keeper and into the back of the net to make it 3-3.
The Dons then completed the turnaround in the second half as they were awarded a penalty just before the hour mark following a foul on Tshimanga.
On a hat-trick, the Dons’ number 9 stepped up to take the spot-kick and finished it calmly into the right corner of the net to make it 4-3.
The match was then wrapped up with seven minutes remaining after a ball forward found Tshimanga inside the area. The striker then squared the ball unselfishly to midfielder Wiltshire to make it 5-3 and seal another victory for the Dons.
Moments earlier Wiltshire had also struck the post with another effort as the Dons showed great character to fight back from 3-1 down and extend their impressive unbeaten home sequence in all competitions.
After the match, Director of Youth Mike Dove said: "We showed great character to come back and make it 3-3 at half-time.
"I was disappointed that after taking the lead we struggled to cope with their attacking threat.
"I had to change the shape after we conceded those three goals in 10 minutes and after that we came back and played very well.
"Kabongo took his chances very well upfront, but I thought that Jack (Hadden) and Adam (Hunt) were the ones who ran the show in the engine room.
"I was pleased with the way the boys applied themselves at the start of the second half."
MK Dons (3-4-1-2): McCorkell: Tingey, Hunt, Okito (capt): Daffern, Weston (Palmiero 31), Wiltshire, Vaughan (Brittain 65): Hadden (Steele 70): Owusu, Tshimanga.
Subs not used: Wyant, Jackson.
Goals: Owusu 5, Tshimanga 40, 45, 59 pen, Wiltshire 83.
The hosts made two changes from the side that beat Dagenham and Redbridge the previous Saturday with Jack Hadden and Kabongo Tshimanga replacing Dominic Palmiero and Sam Nombe.
The Dons got off to the best possible start as they took the lead five minutes in through a breakaway effort after a Southend move broke down.
The dangerous Tshimanga ran forward with the ball before squaring into the box to his strike partner for the day, Owusu, who finished comfortably from close range to make it 1-0.
It was an all-action opening to the game as the visitors levelled on nine minutes from a corner-kick. Despite an impressive close-range block from Dons keeper Andrew McCorkell from the initial Shrimpers effort, they put the rebound into the net past the stranded McCorkell to make it 1-1.
The first twist of an unpredictable game came on 15 minutes after a long ball from left to right found a Southend player on the flank. The cross was then converted and the team from Essex surprisingly led 2-1.
Five minutes later the visitors extended their lead after another long ball forward found a Shrimpers player who had got in behind. He then finished well to make it 3-1 and leave the Dons scratching their heads.
The hosts reduced the arrears five minutes before the break after the U18s’ star of the season, Tshimanga, notching his latest goal by bundling in from close range to reduce the deficit to 3-2.
An incredible first half was then completed as the Dons levelled proceedings moments before the break through Tshimanga's second of the match. After receiving a flick-on, Tshimanga did well to stretch out his leg and direct the ball past the advancing Southend keeper and into the back of the net to make it 3-3.
The Dons then completed the turnaround in the second half as they were awarded a penalty just before the hour mark following a foul on Tshimanga.
On a hat-trick, the Dons’ number 9 stepped up to take the spot-kick and finished it calmly into the right corner of the net to make it 4-3.
The match was then wrapped up with seven minutes remaining after a ball forward found Tshimanga inside the area. The striker then squared the ball unselfishly to midfielder Wiltshire to make it 5-3 and seal another victory for the Dons.
Moments earlier Wiltshire had also struck the post with another effort as the Dons showed great character to fight back from 3-1 down and extend their impressive unbeaten home sequence in all competitions.
After the match, Director of Youth Mike Dove said: "We showed great character to come back and make it 3-3 at half-time.
"I was disappointed that after taking the lead we struggled to cope with their attacking threat.
"I had to change the shape after we conceded those three goals in 10 minutes and after that we came back and played very well.
"Kabongo took his chances very well upfront, but I thought that Jack (Hadden) and Adam (Hunt) were the ones who ran the show in the engine room.
"I was pleased with the way the boys applied themselves at the start of the second half."
MK Dons (3-4-1-2): McCorkell: Tingey, Hunt, Okito (capt): Daffern, Weston (Palmiero 31), Wiltshire, Vaughan (Brittain 65): Hadden (Steele 70): Owusu, Tshimanga.
Subs not used: Wyant, Jackson.
Goals: Owusu 5, Tshimanga 40, 45, 59 pen, Wiltshire 83.
