A second half strike from new signing Mark Carrington proved not to be enough for the Dons against a battling Rushden & Diamonds side in today's pre-season fixture at Nene Park.

Carrington gave the Dons the lead after 51 minutes with a placed volley from twenty yards, only to see two late goals from Aaron O'Connor first cancel out the Dons' advantage and then win the game.

After a low-key first half more about putting minutes in the players' legs than creating chances, former Crewe midfielder Carrington saw Jemal Johnson's corner half-cleared to the edge of the box before steering the ball accurately into the bottom right hand corner of the hosts' net.

New recruit Mark Carrington celebrates his second half strike with Luke Howell

Prior to that goal, there had been few opportunities for either side to break the deadlock, with Luke Chadwick coming closest on 32 minutes, as he collected a ball from Johnson eight yards out, only to see his snap shot hit the outside of the post.

Having taken the lead through Carrington's strike, the Dons made a number of substitutions, including new signings Richie Partridge for Luke Chadwick and Danny Woodards for scorer Carrington.

Soon after the Diamonds equalised when a free kick from James Reid was headed back across goal to O'Connor, who had time and space to bring the ball down inside the penalty and finish calmly.

Sam Baldock takes on two Diamonds defenders in Saturday's pre-season clash

Having levelled the scores, Justin Edinburgh's team then continued to press forward in search of a winner and tempers frayed following a challenge from Stephen Gleeson.

Three minutes from time the Diamonds claimed the spoils courtesy of O'Connor's 87th minute winner.

After grafting his way down the left hand side, the former Mansfield man shot left footed across goal and into the bottom right hand corner, perhaps with the help of a deflection.

Dons Line-up: Willy Gueret (Stuart Searle, 72), Dean Lewington (Adam Chicksen, 72), David McCracken, Luke Howell, Stephen Gleeson (David King, 85), Jermaine Easter (Owuna Dieudonne, 60), Jemal Johnson (Martel Powell, 77), Sam Baldock, Mark Carrington (Danny Woodards, 63), Luke Chadwick (Richie Partridge, 60), Ugo Ehiogu (Daren Powell, 46).

Goalscorer: Carrington, 51