The first team's rearranged fixture against Lincoln City meant a hasty switch of venue for the Dons academy due to take on Reading. With the first team needing the training ground to prepare for Monday night's match live on Sky, academy director Mike Dove was grateful to Reading for agreeing to switch the fixture to the Royals' Hogwood Park training ground.

Despite torrential rain which eventually forced Reading's first team to abandon their FA Cup third round tie with Burnley at the Madjeski Stadium, the training ground pitch was in slightly better condition on Saturday.

In the knowledge that Reading would be employing a 4-3-3 formation, the Dons adjusted their midfield to accommodate. Liam Kelly, Tom Williams and Tom Battams made a three man central midfield as the Dons combated Reading's setup without completely changing formation.

"We set up an unbalanced midfield," explained Mike, "it meant we didn't have anyone strictly playing down the left. We had three in the middle and an attacking right midfield player. It was deliberately unbalanced and we thought it would give us the best chance.

"The three lads in the centre knew their defensive responsibilities and it worked very well in the first half. There was a lot of early pressure on us but we dealt with it well."

Sam Collins, who yesterday was offered a professional contract by manager Martin Allen, put the Dons on the front foot with a 25-yard free kick that was well blocked before 'keeper Laurie Walker was called into action for the first time. Faced with a one-on-one situation, Walker made a superb save with his feet to maintain parity.

The high-tempo, fast paced nature of a game played in tricky conditions resulted in Williams becoming the first player booked. From there the Dons pushed on further and when Daniel Powell's shot was blocked the rebound fell to Kelly who fired just over.

Reaching half time with a clean sheet against a very talented Reading side was a great start and although the Royals had much of the play, the defensive work the Dons had done in training the week before was paying off.

Two minutes after the break, a slip in concentration allowed a Reading centre-half too much time to pick a pass, which he duly did to find his team-mate on the right. The cross came in, the finish was applied and in one swift movement, Reading had shown their class.

As if they needed another setback, the Dons got one anyway when centre-back Ollie Thorne slipped and was caught in possession. The Reading striker capitalised on the error and advanced on to lob the ball over Walker. Just when lady luck looked to be smiling on the Dons as the ball stopped in a goalmouth puddle, the first man to react was in blue and he scrambled the ball home for 2-0.

But a double-blow within 10 minutes of the restart would not break the young Dons' spirit and just four minutes later they were back in the game with a moment of brilliance from Williams. Battams' free-kick from the right was swung in dangerously and as Reading cleared to what they thought was safety, Williams sent it back with interest: a bullet of a 25-yard strike that flew into the back of the Royals net.

With the bit between their teeth, the Dons went in search of an equaliser and almost found one when another Battams free-kick caused a goalmouth scramble that the home side somehow managed to clear.

As the high-tempo persisted, both sides were disciplined and Battams and Kelly went into the book although Mike Dove was understanding of the situation.

"It was a hugely competitive game," Mike said, "the pitch was very wet and both sides were giving everything they had so bookings were inevitable. If your players are going to be booked you would rather it was for a tackle than for dissent or something petty."

Pushing on as they were, the Dons were caught slightly out of shape with 12 minutes to go and when Reading made inroads down the left they were able to score from the resulting cross and put the game out of the Dons' reach.

"I was really pleased with the three lads in midfield," said Mike. "I asked them to do a defensive job against a very good side and for the first 45 minutes they were outstanding.

"From a technical point of view, the players have to know how to change and play in different ways like they did today. As a club, we like to play a 4-4-2 formation and we still did that. We always set up to play how we want to play but sometimes you have to be prepared to adapt.

"It was a much improved performance from our last game before Christmas so the boys are clearly progressing."

Dons (4-4-2): Laurie Walker, Joe Howe, Ollie Thorne, Sam Phillips, Sam Collins, Ashley Ferguson (Dean Lovegrove, 63), Tom Williams, Tom Battams, Liam Kelly, Daniel Powell, Daniel Delderfield. Subs not used: Troy Bailey-Goss, David King.