Milton Keynes Dons under-18s suffered a defeat at Crystal Palace on Saturday in their fourth game in a week.

Following defeat to Arsenal last Saturday, most of the under-18 squad were involved in two reserve games last week, on Monday and Thursday respectively.

But after winning those two midweek fixtures, Saturday's trip to Palace proved a bridge too far for Dove's young side as they slipped to a 4-2 defeat.

Tom Williams' early strike had put the Dons in front only for Aaron Dalhouse's quick-fire response and an own goal from Adam Kent to quickly turn the scores around. Joe Sweeney added a third before Dean Lovegrove's penalty brought the Dons back into it.

But Moses' break-away goal two minutes into injury time killed the resurgent Dons off in an entertaining game.

Employing the same 4-5-1 formation that had served the reserves so well against Leyton Orient on Thursday, the young Dons made a bright start and took the lead after eight minutes through Williams. David King gave his man the slip down the left to cross dangerously and when the ball was only half-cleared, Williams was waiting inside the box to drive the ball home.

Just the start Mike Dove wanted, until Palace turned it all around with a five minute spell of their own. The equaliser arrived on 10 minutes when Laurie Walker failed to get sufficient distance on a punch from a corner and, as the Palace attack kept the ball alive, James Dayton shot into an empty net to level.

Just three minutes later the Dons were behind when Kent unfortunately put through his own goal. James Dayton's run and initial shot from the left was blocked but when the ball ran back into the Palace man's path, his cross shot ended up in the net off the head of the luckless Dons defender.

Having seen an advantage turned around so quickly, the response from the Dons side was not to go into their shells, but to step forward once more and try to force the tempo. Chances were created at both ends but poor decision making cost Mike Dove's side, an issue he would address come the break.

Lovegrove's free-kick went just wide off the back of Charlie Shuter and when Stephane Koffi's effort from Williams' cross was blocked, the Dons striker did well to tee up Liam Kelly who was also charged down.

Mike said: "I was pleased with the way we had started the game, we were very bright and were rewarded with the goal. Obviously it was disappointing to be behind within five minutes of going in front but there were chances after that.

"After seeing how well Stephane did playing the lone-striker role with the reserves, we decided to utilise that again. At times it was over-complicated and I spoke to him about playing with intelligence rather than emotion. There was good midfield support to him and he is learning to make the right decisions when playing that role."

The Dons started the second half in the same vain as they had finished the first as King put them on the front foot, shooting just wide after Kelly's long throw had been cleared.

Again they came and Adam Moriarty's wonderful ball across the box from the right probably should have been converted by either substitute Dan Powell or Koffi sliding in behind him.

But on 75 minutes Palace put the game beyond the Dons when Sweeney added the third, his shot from range taking a wicked bounce out of the sandy goalmouth and deceiving Walker on his way down.

If it was a goal to deflate a side that had worked so hard to get back into the game it didn't show as the Dons kept going and another Lovegrove free-kick was headed just wide by Shuter.

With five minutes to go, they set up a grand finale when a cross into the box was handled by the Palace defence under pressure from Kieran Murphy.

Lovegrove buried the spot-kick to give the Dons a chance but as bodies were thrown forward in search of an equaliser, Moses hit them on the break and rounded Walker to score.

Mike added: "The players looked a little jaded at times but it was their fourth game in a week. We played with an attacking shape and we played some very good football. It was a game played in hot weather, on a hard pitch and the players became a bit irratable, but credit to them for carrying on. We haven't sustained any injuries despite the games coming thick and fast.

"It's a busy week for the players as some of them will play for the reserves on Tuesday and we are away at Tottenham on Saturday. In between that, as part of the players' education package, they will have their practical assessments for their level two FA Coaching Badges on Wednesday."

Dons: Walker, Kelly, Kent, Murphy (c), Mitchell-Coop, Williams, Moriarty, Lovegrove, Shuter, King (Powell 58), Koffi (Delderfield 72).
Subs not used: Chicksen, Bines, Fox.