CHARLTON ATHLETIC U18 2 MK DONS U18 0

Under-18 coach Mike Dove reflected on a mixed display by his young side as they went down to a 2-0 defeat at Charlton on Saturday.

In their first outing since the current crop of second years were handed their decisions on professional contracts, Mike's side performed superbly in a first period which saw several chances for them to seize control of the game.

But a second-half performance that failed to live up to the first left Mike frustrated at a defeat to the adaptable Addicks.

He told mkdons.com: "In the first half we played some of the best football we've played all season. We were bright from the outset, kept possession superbly and our movement was great.

"If I had to be critical I would say that, for all our quality in possession, we didn't cause them enough problems in front of goal. But we were calm and composed when the game got frantic early on and were confident that we would make a breakthrough if we sustained that."

With Charlie Collins and Adam Chicksen celebrating the award of pro deals last week, Igor Coronado buoyed by the extension of his schoolboy terms and Tom Flanagan and Hayden Carter given further time to impress, it was indeed a bright start from the Dons youngsters.

Republic of Ireland Under-19 international Collins showed good feet to fire in a decent effort on 20 minutes before Chicksen and Carter combined to good effect down the left flank without the final ball to match it.

Mike Dove was pleased with his side's first-half display.

Confidence was clearly running through Mike's players and when Coronado drilled just over after more great work from Chicksen down the left, the writing looked on the wall for the second period.

But it was Charlton that made the breakthrough eight minutes after half-time as a quick free-kick in midfield allowed for a cross from the left and a neat one-touch finish.

The midfield area becoming congested, Dons switched to a 4-4-2, but their plans were scuppered nine minutes from time when the Addicks made it two from long range.

The Dons battled back in the closing stages and were denied a strong claim for handball inside the area in stoppage time, but Mike was left to reflect on an ultimately frustrating result.

He said: "Our work rate was good in the second half, but we needed to work smarter and more efficiently.

"Our set-piece delivery was naïve against a big side and when we did try to be a bit cleverer with a short corner towards the end we should probably have had a penalty.

"Unfortunately, we were unable to adapt in the second half as Charlton changed their shape and got into us a bit. It was frustrating because we'd been by far the better side in the first half and being drawn into a scrappier game was our downfall."

Dons (4-3-3): Harrison; Williams, Flanagan, Milton, Chicksen; M. Powell, King, McGovern; Coronado, Collins, Carter (A. Ahmed 82).

Subs not used: Bragg, Plowright, Gyasi, Ivey-Ward.