READING U18 4 MK DONS U18 1

MK Dons Under-18s were left to rue some costly errors at the weekend as their mid-season resurgence was stalled at Reading.

Coming on the back of successive wins at Tottenham and Watford, Mike Dove's youngsters had shown some promising signs of form following the Academy winter break.

But Mike was frustrated by his side's defeat at the hands of the Royals, whose 4-1 victory secured a league double over the young Dons.

With skipper Tom Flanagan and second-year goalkeeper Ashley Harrison called up to the first team squad that travelled to Stockport, it was a Dons side missing some influential personnel, but one that Mike felt should have faired better.

"We conceded early-on, which was partly down to a tactical decision, but we gave them three goals which could really have been avoided.

"I think we missed Tom's leadership, but we needed some of the second years to step forward and take the lead.

"We tried to adapt to the demands of the game, solve the problems that Reading set us, but we didn't show enough intelligence at the right times."

Mike Dove felt his side gifted Reading their win.

Playing the counter-attacking game that had served them well in their previous two outings, Mike's team saw their plans hit by an early Royals goal - a cross from the left flank volleyed in by an unmarked forward.

But after switching to a more pressing approach, the visitors came into things during the remainder of the half and headed for the break with some momentum behind them.

That impetus was stalled within two minutes of the restart as both George Williams and 'keeper Daniel Glass misjudged a long ball and allowed a Royals striker an easy tap-in.

Urged to push forward into the space afforded him by Reading's midfield, defender Harry Milton began to foray forward and having shot just wide on 49 minutes, he was rewarded with a deflected shot that found the net on 69.

But with the game back in the balance, the hosts were handed the means to re-establish their advantage when Milton was drawn into a naïve challenge inside the area and the resulting penalty was gratefully accepted.

"Our heads went a little bit after that," Mike said. "We conceded the fourth with about five minutes to go which was again very frustrating.

"It's a shame because it's a game we almost gave to Reading; they were a decent side but didn't do anything out of the ordinary to warrant beating us 4-1.

"We've got to play smarter, show more composure and think about how to break teams down rather than racing around aimlessly for the sake of it."

The Under-18s host Leicester at Woughton on Tuesday (kick-off 12 noon), where Mike will get a first chance to see how much they have learned from the experience.

Dons (4-3-3): Glass; Browne, Williams, Milton, Chicksen (c); Farden, Baldock, Dowling; Coronado (McGovern 73), M. Powell (Lee 65), Collins.

Subs not used: Bragg, Ivey-Ward, Ahmed.