The U18s came out on top in an incredible nine-goal thriller at Rodney Parade to book their place in the third round of the FA Youth Cup.
Kabongo Tshimanga struck in the penultimate minute of extra-time after Mike Dove’s men had led 4-1 early in the second half thanks to goals from Giorgio Rasulo (2), Laurence Vaughan and Kevin Owusu.
Newport settled the better of the two teams and went ahead in the seventh minute when Corey Shephard fired home from 15 yards after the Dons had failed to clear a corner.
The Dons weren’t behind for long though, Rasulo finding the back of the net on 12 minutes from a tight angle after being picked out by Vaughan on a quick counter-attack.
The roles were reversed four minutes later but there was a different outcome as Vaughan saw his shot saved, before Tshimanga was denied at his feet by Harries from Rasulo’s through-ball.
A moment of magic from Rasulo handed the men from MK1 the lead on 20 minutes, the forward taking the ball down expertly on his chest before unleashing an unstoppable 30-yard effort into the top right-hand corner.
Vaughan got in on the act eight minutes later when he curled a superb 25-yard shot into the opposite top corner as the Dons opened up a two-goal advantage.
At the other end, Adam Hunt superbly blocked an Aaron Collins effort before Kieran Parselle whistled a drive just past the bottom right-hand corner.
That seemed to spring the hosts back into the life, but the Dons were dealing reasonably well with their attacks whilst also looking very dangerous at the other end as the first half came to a close.
It was almost 4-1 two minutes into the second half but Harries was quickly off his line to thwart Tshimanga, who had initially rolled his man magnificently inside the County area.
Owusu pulled an effort wide of the target shortly afterwards before, at the other end, Collins curled a 25-yard free-kick not too far over McCorkell’s crossbar.
A lull in proceedings followed until the hour mark when Owusu met Tshimanga’s in-field pass and finished smartly from the edge of the box – another super strike.
The hosts scored a great goal of their own on 67 minutes, Nyall Gray finding the top left-hand corner with a curling 25-yard effort after the ball had broken loose.
Referee Lee Sheridan denied the Dons what looked to be a certain penalty for a foul on Tshimanga with 20 minutes remaining as they responded well to being pegged back.
However, the deficit was reduced further in the 76th minute with Collins catching out McCorkell from a 40-yard free-kick.
The Dons could have extended their lead late on through Kyran Wiltshire, substitute Callum Brittain and Tshimanga, who all saw shots blocked, but they were stunned in the second minute of injury-time when substitute Ben Brooks rifled home from 25 yards to send the tie into extra-time.
McCorkell made a superb stop just four minutes into the first of two periods of 15 minutes, denying Brooks from 15 yards after Collins had caused problems in the Dons’ area.
Tshimanga almost put the visitors back in front on 102 minutes but his near-post effort was well saved by Harries as the visitors tried to swing the pendulum back their way.
The second period of extra-time saw Tshimanga denied what looked to be another stonewall penalty by referee Lee Sheridan, before the in-form frontman had an effort ruled out for offside – both moments coming in the 116th minute.
However, he had the last laugh of an incredible game in the 119th minute, rolling his man brilliantly before sending a superb effort into the bottom right-hand corner.
The Dons will travel to Nottingham Forest in the third round – a confirmed date and ticket details will be announced in due course.
MK Dons: McCorkell; Daffern, Tingey, Hunt, Okito (c); Hadden (Steele 87), Wiltshire (Palmiero 100); Owusu (Brittain 83), Rasulo, Vaughan; Tshimanga.
Unused subs: Wyant, Furlong.
Goals: Rasulo (12 & 20), Vaughan (28), Owusu (60), Tshimanga (119).
Bookings: Hadden, Wiltshire.
Attendance: 430.
Newport settled the better of the two teams and went ahead in the seventh minute when Corey Shephard fired home from 15 yards after the Dons had failed to clear a corner.
The Dons weren’t behind for long though, Rasulo finding the back of the net on 12 minutes from a tight angle after being picked out by Vaughan on a quick counter-attack.
The roles were reversed four minutes later but there was a different outcome as Vaughan saw his shot saved, before Tshimanga was denied at his feet by Harries from Rasulo’s through-ball.
A moment of magic from Rasulo handed the men from MK1 the lead on 20 minutes, the forward taking the ball down expertly on his chest before unleashing an unstoppable 30-yard effort into the top right-hand corner.
Vaughan got in on the act eight minutes later when he curled a superb 25-yard shot into the opposite top corner as the Dons opened up a two-goal advantage.
At the other end, Adam Hunt superbly blocked an Aaron Collins effort before Kieran Parselle whistled a drive just past the bottom right-hand corner.
That seemed to spring the hosts back into the life, but the Dons were dealing reasonably well with their attacks whilst also looking very dangerous at the other end as the first half came to a close.
It was almost 4-1 two minutes into the second half but Harries was quickly off his line to thwart Tshimanga, who had initially rolled his man magnificently inside the County area.
Owusu pulled an effort wide of the target shortly afterwards before, at the other end, Collins curled a 25-yard free-kick not too far over McCorkell’s crossbar.
A lull in proceedings followed until the hour mark when Owusu met Tshimanga’s in-field pass and finished smartly from the edge of the box – another super strike.
The hosts scored a great goal of their own on 67 minutes, Nyall Gray finding the top left-hand corner with a curling 25-yard effort after the ball had broken loose.
Referee Lee Sheridan denied the Dons what looked to be a certain penalty for a foul on Tshimanga with 20 minutes remaining as they responded well to being pegged back.
However, the deficit was reduced further in the 76th minute with Collins catching out McCorkell from a 40-yard free-kick.
The Dons could have extended their lead late on through Kyran Wiltshire, substitute Callum Brittain and Tshimanga, who all saw shots blocked, but they were stunned in the second minute of injury-time when substitute Ben Brooks rifled home from 25 yards to send the tie into extra-time.
McCorkell made a superb stop just four minutes into the first of two periods of 15 minutes, denying Brooks from 15 yards after Collins had caused problems in the Dons’ area.
Tshimanga almost put the visitors back in front on 102 minutes but his near-post effort was well saved by Harries as the visitors tried to swing the pendulum back their way.
The second period of extra-time saw Tshimanga denied what looked to be another stonewall penalty by referee Lee Sheridan, before the in-form frontman had an effort ruled out for offside – both moments coming in the 116th minute.
However, he had the last laugh of an incredible game in the 119th minute, rolling his man brilliantly before sending a superb effort into the bottom right-hand corner.
The Dons will travel to Nottingham Forest in the third round – a confirmed date and ticket details will be announced in due course.
MK Dons: McCorkell; Daffern, Tingey, Hunt, Okito (c); Hadden (Steele 87), Wiltshire (Palmiero 100); Owusu (Brittain 83), Rasulo, Vaughan; Tshimanga.
Unused subs: Wyant, Furlong.
Goals: Rasulo (12 & 20), Vaughan (28), Owusu (60), Tshimanga (119).
Bookings: Hadden, Wiltshire.
Attendance: 430.
