A much-changed MK Dons suffered defeat in their opening fixture of the Papa John's Trophy.

New signing Joshua Kayode went straight into the starting XI whilst Edward Gyamfi was handed his MK Dons debut. There were also first starts of the season for Franco Ravizzoli & Brooklyn Ilunga.
 
First-year scholars Seb Stacey & Callum Tripp were amongst the substitutes.



FIRST-HALF
 
Matt Smith progressed up the field swiftly before he played the ball into Louie Barry, Barry attempted a chip into the box to find the continued run of the number seven, but MacDonald came out and collected it.
 
Goal. Cheltenham took the lead after eight minutes, Alfie May converted a from the penalty-spot. There was light contact on the right side of the area which was enough for the referee to make his decision.
 
Gyamfi’s lively run into the final-third caused him to get fouled, Dan Kemp stepped up to take the free-kick which was hit narrowly wide of the target. After that, Oyegoke crafted a perfectly timed slide tackle up the other end to prevent Christian Norton from running through on goal.
 
Just after the 30-minute mark Barry attempted to fire a ball across the Robin’s area, but it was dealt with by the defence. MK Dons continued to hold most of the possession in the hope that they could locate an opening.
 
Grant Horton was awarded a booking after he scythed down Ilunga on the left-flank.
 
Just after 35 minutes, Kemp and Barry played a brilliant one-two pass which unleashed Barry into the Cheltenham box. However, the number 19 was defended well which encouraged his shot to whisker wide of the post.
 
Ilunga’s trickery allowed him to skip past Adshead, the Cheltenham defender brought the wing-back down to the ground and the Dons were awarded a free-kick. Adshead received a booking.
 
GOAL! MK Dons equalised after Zak Jules headed home Smith’s delivery, on the end of Ilunga’s awarded free-kick. Three minutes remained before the interval.
 
Two minutes were added before the referee signalled for half-time.
 
 
SECOND-HALF
 
Callum Tripp and Nathan Holland entered the field in place of Gyamfi and Kayode. Cheltenham also made two changes and introduced Ben Williams, as well as Taylor Perry.
 
Jules carried his strong start into the second-half, as he proved a handful for Cheltenham players up and down the pitch.
 
51 minutes had passed, Barry had a bright idea to create a reverse pass meant for Ethan Robson, but the ball had too much power for the midfielder to latch onto.
 
Goal. Charlie Brown regained the lead for the Robins, after he pounced on a scramble to clear the ball which ended up in the number seven’s path for a tap-in finish. Ben Williams delivered the free-kick beforehand. 54 minutes had passed.
 
Kemp drove into the box and released a shot, but Charlie Raglan was able to block it and divert it behind for a corner. The number 17 then received a short cross before he delivered the ball into Tripp, whose header at goal was just wide.
 
Although soon after it was flagged offside, Franco, who wasn’t aware of the infringement did well to stop a close-range header.
 
Brown hit the ball with his left boot on the edge of the area, his attempt flew wide. The number seven for the Robins had another chance soon after, which was placed into the palms of Ravizolli.
Matt Dennis replaced Dan Kemp and Cheltenham swapped Christian Norton for George Lloyd, this occurred with 20 minutes left of play.
 
Cheltenham seemed to desire another before the match concluded, the Dons continued to defend well and searched for another equaliser. Ten minutes remained.
 
Barry’s persistence allowed him to run through a number of bodies but eventually the Robins managed to stop him just before he reached a dangerous area.
 
The away side created another chance which crashed off the post, there were five minutes that remained.
 
Four minutes of added time were announced on the 90-minute mark.
 
Barry created himself space which granted him a chance in the dying stages of the match, he hit the ball low and hard, but somehow MacDonalad had managed to keep the ball out of the net using his legs.

Cheltenham handed MK Dons defeat in the opening fixture of the Papa John's trophy.
 
***
 
MK Dons: Ravizolli, Tucker, Smith, Robson, Oyegoke, Kayode (Holland 45), Kemp (Dennis 70), Barry, Ilunga, Gyamfi (Tripp 45), Jules
 
Subs: Stacey, Lawrence, Burns, Devoy, Dennis,
 
Goals: Jules 42 (Matt Smith A),
 
Booked: Oyegoke 8, Gyamfi 16
 
Cheltenham: MacDonald, Bradbury, Raglan (C), Brown (Sambu 80), May (Perry 45), Chapman, Ferry (Taylor 79), Adshead (Williams 45), Horton, Barkers, Norton (Lloyd 70)
 
Subs: Southwood, Hutchinson
 
Goals: May 8, Brown 54
 
Booked: Grant Horton 24, Adshead 41