MK Dons hit neighbours Northampton with a first-half blitz to advance to the area semi-finals of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy.

Stand-in skipper Aaron Wilbraham's wonder-strike and an impressive double from Sam Baldock left the Cobblers reeling during 20 devastating minutes before the break.

And Ian Sampson's men were never able to truly recover, despite Steve Guinan's header giving them hope early in the second period.

It was a result that saw the Dons extend their impressive run of form at stadiummk - this a club record sixth successive win on their own patch - and boss Paul Ince's only disappointment will be that they didn't turn their first-half dominance into a more handsome score-line.

But a display that saw them run Northampton ragged at times will give Ince plenty of optimism that his side are finding their best form ahead of a massive League 1 trip to Charlton this weekend.

Even with six changes, the Dons played with fluidity and flair in a first period lit up by a goal Dons fans will remember for some time, and delivered by a player ominously returning to his best.

Wilbraham's glorious opener stuns Northampton.

Frustrated by injury at the start of this season, Wilbraham has shown in recent weeks flashes of the strong, intelligent forward play that won him the club's Player of the Year award last term.

But not even Northampton, a side haunted by the Dons striker following his two decisive goals in 1-0 wins for the Dons last season, could have foreseen this.

Lewis Gobern's fizzed cross from the right looked nigh-on impossible to control, but Wilbraham, proudly sporting the armband for the first time, managed it, cushioning the ball in one direction and spinning away from the bamboozled Patrick Kanyuka in the other.

Ball dropping, Kanyuka's head spinning, Wilbraham's sights locked, Cobblers 'keeper Chris Dunn barely saw the ball as the Dons marksman flashed a breathtaking 14-yard volley into the top corner.

Baldock slots the Dons' second past Chris Dunn.

It was the perfect start for the home side, and one that left Northampton struggling to contain Dons players with a point to prove.

From full-backs Luke Howell and Sol Davis, to Mark Carrington in midfield and the electrifying Baldock in attack, this was an opportunity for Ince's squad players to stake a big claim and it could have got ugly in a hurry.

Gobern was the first to race clear, released by good work from Jason Puncheon and Luke Chadwick, but his clever dinked effort was cleared off the line by Kanyuka.

Then it was the turn of left-back Davis, standing in impressively for the suspended Dean Lewington, who was denied by Dunn after a one-two with Baldock.

Luke Chadwick congratulates Sam Baldock on his first.

A second was only a matter of time and when Howell's ball sliced the Cobblers defence in half, livewire Baldock sprung the offside trap before slotting confidently past Dunn.

With leading scorer Jermaine Easter set to miss Saturday's Charlton trip on international duty, it was the goal Baldock needed to back up his case to replace the Welshman and when the chance for a second came along, nobody could stop him.

Chadwick again took advantage of Northampton's high line, dropping a ball in behind for Baldock to chase, and when the little striker got there he was cleaned out by the outrushing Dunn.

Made to wait some time while Kanyuka, also clattered by his goalkeeper, was treated for injury, Baldock never looked flustered and eventually crashed the spot-kick home with authority.

Baldock smashes home from the penalty spot.

Northampton did their best to respond - Liam Davis firing a deflected free-kick just wide and Andy Holt forcing a save from Willy Gueret - but Dons weren't off the front foot for long as both Carrington and Chadwick were denied by Dunn before half-time.

Northampton fans were given some hope within six minutes of the restart when Guinan climbed highest head home Luke Guttridge's free-kick.

But even as the Dons lost some of their first-half momentum, the visitors rarely looked likely to score what would have been a vital second.

In fact it was Baldock who came closest to adding what would have been a hat-trick goal as he climbed to meet a cross from substitute Easter, but just sent his header within Dunn's reach.

Baldock and Wilbraham celebrate the Dons' third.

The home side's cause was not helped by an injury to defender Darren Powell towards the end, a knock that saw Wilbraham step into the unfamiliar role of centre-half for the final 13 minutes.

But having scored the goal of a lifetime wearing the captain's armband already, he'd have just as gladly pulled Gueret's gloves on and done a stint between the sticks.

MK Dons (4-4-2): Gueret; Howell, Darren Powell (Ibehre 77), McCracken, Davis; Gobern (Easter 70), Puncheon, Carrington, Chadwick (Leven 70); Wilbraham (c), Baldock.

Subs not used: Gleeson, Morgan

Goals: Wilbraham 6, Baldock 16, 26 (pen)

Booked: Gobern, Darren Powell, McCracken

Northampton Town (4-4-2): Dunn; Hinton (c), Kanyuka (McCready 26), Beckwith (Jacobs 67), Rodgers; Davis, Gilligan, Guttridge, Holt; Guinan (Akinfenwa 67), Mulligan.

Subs not used: Brown, Dyer

Goals: Guinan 51

Booked: Rodgers

Attendance: 8,886 (2245 away)

Referee: Kevin Wright (Cambridgeshire)