MK Dons under-18s made it two wins from their final two fixtures with a win over Birmingham City.

Long-range strikes from Sam Baldock and Sam Collins brought the Dons back from a goal behind to secure victory at Woughton, following on from their 6-2 thumping of Tottenham last week.

It was another impressive performance from a Dons side containing seven first-year scholars and a further indication of their development this season.

They started the game at a high tempo and, like their opponents, provided more pace and aggression than silky football. That was until the Dons found some rhythm on 27 minutes and Tom Williams cross was knocked back by Liam Kelly only for Baldock to shoot wide.

Chances were few and far between as both sides kept up the frantic pace in midfield, though Kelly did fire a shot over after Baldock had been dispossesed.

Perhaps frustrated at the lack of outright chances being created ahead of him, Collins decided to take matters into his own hands just before half time. The full-back romped forward down the left before unleashing a shot from 35 yards which cannoned back off the crossbar.

"We had a clean sheet at half time which is always pleasing," said Mike. "We needed to match Birmingham's work rate and try to play higher and wider up the pitch."

It was Dons 'keeper Laurie Walker who was called into action early in the second half, saving brilliantly with his feet to deny a breaking Blues attacker.

Having rattled one piece of woodwork in the game, Collins smacked another when Baldock put him in down the left but his shot bounced off the near post to safety.

And Birmingham made them pay a minute later, taking the lead when Miles Mitchell-Coop's headed clearance was acrobatically dispatched.

It was a great effort, but Baldock was about to better it with a bolt from the blue. Allowing the ball to bounce 30 yards from goal, he pulled the trigger on a sweet half-volley that sailed over the Blues 'keeper and into the net.

"The first goal caught me by surprise," said Dove, " but we had a period when we were on top afterwards. We really dug in and the goal spurred us on."

Adam Moriarty cracked the woodwork again off Baldock's pass and Kelly arrowed a shot just wide before Collins found the net on 78 minutes. Lining up a free-kick from a central position, 30 yards from goal, he drove in a fierce, low shot that pierced the wall and zipped past the 'keeper.

"It was a tense finish," Mike added, Birmingham had a couple of chances though they didn't give Laurie too much to deal with. There were bodies being thrown in front of shots and we were defending frantically when perhaps we needed a bit more composure.

"Overall I was pleased with the performance and to have won the game with seven first years out there was a big plus.

"Ollie Thorne and James Nash won everything in the air and both full-backs got forward very well.

"We knew it woulldn't be the same game as Tottenham last week where we played lots of neat football, it would be played at pace and we showed good spirit to win the game.

"The mini pre-season we had just after Christmas has been a big factor in why we have performed so well towards the end. Credit must go to not only the players, but to Paul Collins and Simon Crampton for getting them in such good physical condition for the run-in."

Dons: Walker, Mitchell-Coop, Thorne, Nash (c), Collins, Williams, Moriarty, Shuter, Kelly, Koffi, Baldock.
Subs not used: Powell, Delderfield, King, Bines, Fox.