Academy Director Mike Dove reflected on a positive opening week in the Under 18 season, despite defeats in their first two games.

For the best result of the last 10 days for the Club's youth setup came at Ninian Park last Tuesday, where three Milton Keynes Academy products played for the first team against Cardiff City in the Carling Cup. Sam Baldock and Adam Chicksen both played the entire 90 minutes while David King was a 65th-minute substitute.

The opening two games in the Premier Academy League - a 2-1 home defeat to Wolves and a 4-0 loss at Everton last Saturday - may not have been ideal results for the Under 18s, but there have been promising elements in the way the team have performed.

"The highlight of the week for me was the Cardiff game," said Mike. "We were holding a schoolboy induction evening at the stadium that night and Paul Heald text me to say they were all involved.

"We've always had the Academy facilities and the stadium itself to offer but to have three Academy lads, two of them current scholars, playing in the first team was the best example we could give of the opportunities here.

"Those three lads are there on merit because the manager rates them so they deserve a great deal of credit."

On the pitch it's been something of a learning experience for Mike's Under 18 team. While the defeat to Wolves was a narrow one - Dan Powell's goal coming close to earning a point before a late goal won it for the Midlands team - the Everton game was disappointing.

Mike said: "The trip to Everton on Saturday was a good experience for the players. We were fortunate enough to train using Loughborough University's excellent facilities on the Friday while travelling overnight always helps the staff learn a bit more about the players.

"We expected Everton to have a lot of the ball but if we could get to half-time with a clean sheet I thought we could get something.

"We didn't quite manage that, despite Kurt Fox pulling off some fantastic saves in goal, and in the second half we lost our shape and discipline a little.

"There was a spell before they scored where we really got amongst them and caused a few problems but their goal before half-time changed the game."

Dons v Everton (4-1-4-1): Fox, Costa, King (c), Flanagan, Milton, M. Powell, Carter (Holmes), Dowling (Newton), Locklin (Williams), D. Powell, Delderfield.

Subs not used: Harrision, Lee.