Under 18 report by Mark Cockram

A very young Dons side succumbed to a 3-0 defeat as they lost to Birmingham City in a tough and hard working encounter at Woughton on the Green.

With goalkeeper Laurie Walker, Scotland Under 18 international Liam Kelly and striker Sam Baldock all part of the first team squad at Crewe, Under 18 manager Mike Dove's took the opportunity to give some experience to a number of untested players.

They had an early scare in the opening five minutes when Daniel Delderfield went down injured after he had collided with Birmingham centre back Daniel Preston, but thankfully for the Dons he came back on the pitch after treatment.

Dons' first chance of the game came when Miles Mitchell-Coop played a wonderful ball down the channel to Tom Williams, who then crossed to Daniel Powell but his shot was straight at the Birmingham goalkeeper Arthur Krysiak.

Dons were looking strong and creative on the ball, more so than their visitors and only a slight mix up between two Dons forwards caused the first opportunity for Birmingham. City's Jared Wilson played a great ball to team mate Toby Osman, but Kurt Fox saw the danger and took the ball of the feet of the Blues man.

Dons created a decent opportunity when a good passage of play found the ball at Stephane Koffi's feet, but Koffi just hesitated slightly and shot straight at Krysiak.

Fox was called into action again on the 25th minute when Wilson again saw Osman in space but Fox was as alert as he had been previously and cleared the danger with ease.

With the Dons playing the better football it wasn't long before they found their next opportunity to take the lead. Williams whipped in a decent corner and David King got a strong head to it but put it just over the bar.

Following this opportunity, Birmingham came back into the game and started to pile on the pressure, with that the next chance came soon came their way. Mitchell McPike's powerful free kick caused Fox to spill the shot out of his hands but the Dons defence was on hand to save him and clear the ball to safety.

With the Dons defending with grit and determination to make sure their opponents did not take the lead it was a blow when Birmingham scored. Striker Robert Gradwell got the better of Tom Flanagan and headed the ball into the top left hand corner out of Fox's reach.

Dons showed their heart and determination and nearly made it 1-1 just a minute later when Daniel Powell ran into space and crossed the ball to King, whose shot squirmed past the left hand post.

Dons received another setback when Birmingham made it 2-0 just before half time. McPike delivered a nice through ball to Osman who coolly finished past Fox inside his left-hand post.

In fact, Osman should have had another goal before the break but he shot straight at Fox when well-positioned.

With Birmingham out for second half early Mike Dove kept his side in the dugout with a long half time team talk and it seemed to have worked with the Dons piling on the pressure in the opening ten minutes.

With Dons working really hard it came as a real disappointment when Birmingham got their third goal of the game in 55^th minute. It was scored by Ashley Sammons who curled his shot past Fox from just inside box.

Dons made tactical changes after the goal with Troy Farden coming on for Powell and this seemed to have made a difference with the Dons pushing bodies forward to find a goal to get them back in the game.

It nearly came when King found Farden in acres of space but Birmingham defender Jordan Mutch stopped any chance of Farden getting a decisive touch with a strong tackle.

Dons played with passion and heart that defied Birmingham's three-goal advantage and when Delderfield forced Birmingham midfielder Dean Lea into a mistake on 73 minutes, he shot just over the bar from 25 yards.

With 10 minutes to go Dons still were showing signs that they could make something happen by creating chance after chance - Sam Collins just pushing his shot into the side netting.

There was a final chance for the Dons to get a consolation goal when Farden nearly stole the ball from the Birmingham goalkeeper Krysiak's feet but the ball ran out of play.

The final whistle blew with the Dons wondering how they lost the match by such a margin when they effort and quality probably justified more.

MK Dons: Fox, Mitchell-Coop, Flanagan, Bailey, Collins, Chicksen, King, Delderfield, Williams, D .Powell (Farden 59), Koffi.

Subs not used: Cryan, M.Powell, Banton, Hooker