MK DONS U18 1 LEYTON ORIENT U18 3

MK Dons' FA Youth Cup campaign came to an end at the third round stage as Leyton Orient came from behind impressively at stadiummk.

Hayden Carter had put the Dons in front with an excellent early goal before Mike Dove's young team, rocked by injuries to influential players, were pegged back by Jake Argent's equaliser.

Orient came off the stronger in the second half with Argent firing a spectacular second and Louis Crowther tapping home a third to book the Londoners' place in the fourth round.

Dons got off to a dream start after five minutes when Igor Coronado flicked a lovely ball over the top of the Orient defence and Carter raced clear to crash a dipping half-volley over Jack Giddens.

Full-back Jordan Browne was denied impressively by Giddens as the Dons, with midfielder Mark Lee at the heart of things, continued their excellent start, but their hopes were dealt a blow when leading scorer Charlie Collins was stretchered off following a clash with Cester Mike.

Hayden Carter gives the Dons an early lead.

Martel Powell was introduced in his place, but Orient were starting to find some rhythm and when Crowther headed a ball from the left back across goal Musa Manneh headed poorly wide.

Skipper Adam Chicksen stung the palms of Giddens after a burst forward from left-back, but another injury, this time to Justin Dowling, made for seven added minutes that the Dons couldn't hold out for.

Coronado was booked for diving just inside his own half and quick thinking Orient skipper Harry Beautyman floated the resulting free-kick brilliantly in behind for Argent to race onto before calmly lobbing Harrison.

Jordan Browne congratulates Hayden Carter.

Dowling rejoined the action after half-time, but within 12 minutes his side were behind as Argent lashed a cracking 20-yard drive beyond Harrison and into the top corner.

Ace Ahmed, who scored the winner against Bishop's Stortford in the second round, was introduced off the bench, but it was Orient looking the more dangerous as Beautyman drilled a great cross in from the left that Manneh planted straight at Harrison.

And the visitors extended their lead with 17 minutes to go when Manneh's persistence down the left saw him drive across goal, Harrison parry and Crowther tap in from close range.

Jake Argent (10) celebrates his first goal.

The young Dons tried to mount a late rally, with Ahmed volleying just over after being teed up by Carter, but their attacks proved fruitless against a solid O's defence.

MK Dons: Harrison, Browne, Chicksen (c), Lee, Milton, Williams, Dowling (G. Baldock 80), Farden, Collins (M. Powell), Coronado (Ahmed 61), Carter.

Subs not used: Glass, McGovern.