MK Dons opened their pre-season campaign with a victory over Buckingham Athletic at Stratford Fields.

Kieran Agard and second-year scholars David Kasumu and Joey Evans were on the scoresheet in the 3-0 success, in which Ousseynou Cissé and Conor McGrandles impressed on their Dons debuts.

Robbie Neilson split his Dons side into two teams with both XIs playing 45 minutes each and the starters looked comfortable from the outset - Giorgio Rasulo saw a shot blocked before Sam Nombe had strong appeals for a penalty waved away in the opening five minutes.

As the 10th minute approached, Agard’s movement created a shooting opportunity for himself but, after turning his man, he was denied by a challenge from another Athletic defender.

Nombe was looking bright and he shot not too far wide following a smart take on the edge of the box, this coming before Agard was denied at close range and Brandon Thomas-Asante dragged an effort wide.

Last season’s top scorer Agard deservedly gave the Dons the lead on 20 minutes, turning home from close range after a superb burst into the box and cut-back from Joe Walsh.

Agard was a denied a second shortly afterwards by the offside flag while strike partner Nombe continued to carry a threat and forced a save from Lewis Dench.

Ed Upson, always composed in possession, was denied and Agard once again had an effort ruled out for offside before the half was out.

Like in the first half, the second-half XI began brightly with Callum Brittain being thwarted by Nick Benion before new recruit McGrandles curled an effort just wide from 25 yards.

McGrandles was causing Athletic problems and his cross was headed just wide by fellow Scot Robbie Muirhead not long before the hour mark.

Second-year scholar Kasumu made it 2-0 on 61 minutes, firing home into the top right-hand corner from 15 yards.

Like McGrandles, Cissé was impressing - his power and nice touch evident on display for the Dons fans in attendance at Stratford Fields.

The former almost made it 3-0 on 69 minutes but he guided his header just wide of the left-hand post, this coming prior to Muirhead firing a shot goalwards which deflected behind for a corner.

A clever pass from Cissé set the lively Brittain away and from his recycled cross, youngster Jay Bird saw a close-range effort cleared off the line as the Dons continued to threaten.

A header from Sam Olawale into the arms of the trialist keeper late on offered rare respite for the hosts, who spend the majority of the match in their own half.

Joey Evans added a third in the final minute courtesy of a fine finish to wrap up a successful first run-out of the Dons’ 2017/18 pre-season campaign.

First-half XI: Trialist; Williams (c), Tapp, Walsh, Tilney; Thomas-Asante, Rasulo, Trialist, Upson; Nombe, Agard.

Second-half XI: Trialist; Brittain, Downing, Jackson, Furlong; Kasumu (Bell 80), Trialist (Evans 80), Cisse, McGrandles; Bird, Muirhead.

Unused sub: Jones (GK)

Goals: Agard (20), Kasumu (61), Evans (90).