Under 18 Match Report by Mark Cockram

Sam Baldock's smart finish was the only goal as Mike Dove's side picked up a well-deserved victory against Coventry City.

Dove was back to a full strength squad after striker Baldock, midfielder Liam Kelly and goalkeeper Laurie Walker returned after first team duty at Crewe last week. Dons were aiming to get back to winning ways after losing their last three but Coventry entered into the game with confidence after finally obtaining their first win of the season against Cardiff City last week.

The opening five minutes were played at a frantic pace with neither side succeeding in getting control of the game.

In the sixth minute Coventry broke free with great vision from goalkeeper Neil Collett, when he saw Dean Marshall in space down the left wing. Marshall controlled the ball superbly and passed to Reis Ashraf but Ashraf was under pressure to get his shot off quickly and shot straight at Walker.

Dons woke up after Coventry's chance and came back into the game straight away by playing smart and simple football.

It wasn't before long they got an opportunity to take the lead, with Baldock collecting the ball from David King and dinking it into the bottom left hand corner to make it 1-0.

With Dons in control of the game Coventry became frustrated causing them to play hit and hope balls to their strikers.

Dons were so close to getting their second goal a minute later with debutant Will Smart's powerful shot stinging the hands of Collett.

Chance after chance came to the home side, Baldock turned well but his shot was deflected to push the ball past the right hand post in the 24^th minute.

Dons were playing with confidence indicated by their willingness to shoot from distance; Sam Collins came the closest with his shot from 25 yards hitting the side netting.

With Sky Blues defence looking shaky the young Dons exploited it, putting dangerous balls into the box, they came close to making it work when Stephane Koffi made good space for himself but his shot was blocked by Coventry centre back Callum Burgess.

Coventry switched their players around into different positions to get back into the game which created chances, with Andrew Ritchie and Shaun Jeffers linking up well but Jeffers just pushing the shot past the right hand post.

Coventry started to pile pressure on the Dons and nearly got the goal to make it 1-1 after Marshall went for the lob but Walker came to the rescue for the Dons by producing a superb save to push it over the bar for a corner.

One minute into the second half there was a real scare for both sides when Walker came out for the ball but collided with Jeffers and King but thankfully all three players were fine and came back on the pitch after treatment.

The Dons controlled the opening 15 minutes of the second half but only got one decent opportunity - Kelly shooting from 20 yards out but Collett was very well positioned to save it.

Coventry were frustrated by Walker again on 59 minutes, who came up with another fantastic save when Jeffers fired a shot from 30 yards out but the Dons 'keeper got his fingertips to it.

City got a sight of goal on the 63^rd minute but a saving touch from Tom Flanagan stopped Jeffers from being through.

Dons were playing superbly in defence with every player trying to stop City from getting the goal that would have got them back into the game.

With 10 minutes to go, the Dons were looking solid but they still had chances to kill the game off and their best opportunity to do so was when they were awarded a free kick just outside the area.

The young Dons worked the free kick cleverly with Collins faking the shot then King passing it to Kelly, who shot with power but Collett was very well positioned to save.

In the dying moments, City's Jermaine Grandison made a splendid run down the right channel and whipped a dangerous ball across the Dons box but he was short on support to make it count.

MK Dons: Walker, Mitchell-Coop, King, Flanagan, Collins, Smart (Chicksen 45), Delderfield, Kelly, Williams, Baldock, Koffi (Powell 79)

Goals: Baldock 9

Coventry City: Collett, Jones, Grandison, Burgess, Robinson, Marshall (Fraser 45), Barrelli (Fitzharris 45), Walker, Ritchie, Ashraf, Jeffers

Referee: Mr. C Knowles