The Dons started their pre-season schedule on home soil with a 6-0 success over Newport Pagnell Town on Saturday lunchtime.
Samir Carruthers scored a classy hat-trick while Lee Hodson, Tom Hitchcock and Dean Bowditch also found the net on a good run-out at Willen Road.
The men from MK1 began brightly with Carruthers seeing a shot blocked and Hitchcock guiding an effort inches past the left-hand post following nice build-up play.
It was the unlikely source of Hodson handed the Dons a deserved lead on nine minutes when he, advanced from right-back, beat two defenders and fired into the top left-hand corner from 15 yards.
The advantage was doubled on 17 minutes, Hitchcock in the right place at the right time to tap home after Giorgio Rasulo had seen a shot from Bowditch’s cut-back well saved.
Carruthers slid home number three from 15 yards just four minutes later – a fantastic team goal including smart play from Hitchcock and Dale Jennings, who pulled the ball back for the midfielder to finish well.
The crossbar denied the Dons a fourth shortly afterwards as a home defender diverted a free-kick towards his own goal, prior to Rasulo rasping an effort not too far past the top-right hand corner from 25 yards.
At the other end, Karl Robinson’s side were looking very comfortable with Cropper only called into action to deal with a couple of low drives.
Rasulo, who was interchanging positions with Bowditch in the middle, rifled an effort from close range against the post as the Dons continued to carry a major threat.
Jennings shot straight at the hosts’ keeper after receiving a clever pass from Carruthers in the last real action of a strong first half.
Two goals in quick succession at the start of the second period from Bowditch and Carruthers, the latter of which was a fine curling effort into the top right-hand corner, saw the Dons extend their lead to 5-0.
Carruthers completed his hat-trick on 55 minutes, rifling a fierce shot into the roof of the net from 15 yards after expertly bringing down a pass.
Twenty minutes to go saw all but Dom Palmeiro replaced as the first team’s work for the day was done and the Academy players given a chance to show what they can do.
Samuel Nombe came close to extending the lead in the closing stages but was denied by the offside flag and a good stop by the hosts' keeper.
Starting XI: Cropper; Hodson, McFadzean, Walsh, Lewington; Palmeiro, Carruthers; Bowditch, Rasulo, Jennings; Hitchcock.
Final 20 minutes: McCorkell; Hunt, Jackson, Omar, Stratton; Palmeiro, Osei-Bonsu; Brittain, Furlong, Owusu; Nombe.
Goals: Hodson (9), Hitchcock (17), Carruthers (21, 48 & 55), Bowditch (47).
Attendance: 769
The men from MK1 began brightly with Carruthers seeing a shot blocked and Hitchcock guiding an effort inches past the left-hand post following nice build-up play.
It was the unlikely source of Hodson handed the Dons a deserved lead on nine minutes when he, advanced from right-back, beat two defenders and fired into the top left-hand corner from 15 yards.
The advantage was doubled on 17 minutes, Hitchcock in the right place at the right time to tap home after Giorgio Rasulo had seen a shot from Bowditch’s cut-back well saved.
Carruthers slid home number three from 15 yards just four minutes later – a fantastic team goal including smart play from Hitchcock and Dale Jennings, who pulled the ball back for the midfielder to finish well.
The crossbar denied the Dons a fourth shortly afterwards as a home defender diverted a free-kick towards his own goal, prior to Rasulo rasping an effort not too far past the top-right hand corner from 25 yards.
At the other end, Karl Robinson’s side were looking very comfortable with Cropper only called into action to deal with a couple of low drives.
Rasulo, who was interchanging positions with Bowditch in the middle, rifled an effort from close range against the post as the Dons continued to carry a major threat.
Jennings shot straight at the hosts’ keeper after receiving a clever pass from Carruthers in the last real action of a strong first half.
Two goals in quick succession at the start of the second period from Bowditch and Carruthers, the latter of which was a fine curling effort into the top right-hand corner, saw the Dons extend their lead to 5-0.
Carruthers completed his hat-trick on 55 minutes, rifling a fierce shot into the roof of the net from 15 yards after expertly bringing down a pass.
Twenty minutes to go saw all but Dom Palmeiro replaced as the first team’s work for the day was done and the Academy players given a chance to show what they can do.
Samuel Nombe came close to extending the lead in the closing stages but was denied by the offside flag and a good stop by the hosts' keeper.
Starting XI: Cropper; Hodson, McFadzean, Walsh, Lewington; Palmeiro, Carruthers; Bowditch, Rasulo, Jennings; Hitchcock.
Final 20 minutes: McCorkell; Hunt, Jackson, Omar, Stratton; Palmeiro, Osei-Bonsu; Brittain, Furlong, Owusu; Nombe.
Goals: Hodson (9), Hitchcock (17), Carruthers (21, 48 & 55), Bowditch (47).
Attendance: 769
