MK Dons Under-23s fought back three times to draw 3-3 with Barnet in their Central League fixture at Stadium MK.

Edu Rubio’s side fell behind on three occasions but a trio of equalisers, two of which were scored by Sam Nombe, saw them leave with a share of the spoils. Connor Furlong grabbed the final leveller with five minutes to play.

The Dons started well but it was Barnet who took the lead through fortuitous circumstances in the third minute. Nana Kyei broke into the area and delivered a cross which, although miss-hit by a teammate, diverted into the net via a touch from David Kasumu. 0-1.

Rubio’s side responded and went close to an immediate equaliser through Aidan Nebsitt, whose right-footed curler was saved by Kai McKenzie-Lyle.

They found their equaliser on seven minutes - a deflected effort from Nombe which caught out the helpless McKenzie-Lyle. 1-1.

Connor Furlong tried his luck from range as the Dons looked to take the lead while Fumn Shomotun struck the side netting with an effort at the other end of the pitch.

Kyei also fired into the side netting for the Bees not long before Giorgio Rasulo produced a save out of McKenzie-Lyle after latching onto a through pass from Nombe.

With half an hour on the clock, Jordan Nicholson put the away side back in front with a neat finish from inside the area, despite Conor McGrandles’ best efforts to put him off. 1-2.

Sietsma prevented the visitors doubling their lead with a strong save to keep out a shot from Justin Amaluzor. Oran Jackson then denied Kyei with a well-timed sliding tackle – one of two he made in the final minutes of the half.

Nombe had three opportunities to draw the Dons level before the break but on the two first occasions he was denied by McKenzie-Lyle. At the third attempt he no mistake.

McGrandles created the goal with an interception inside his own half. Nesbitt collected the loose ball and played in Nombe, who finished off the move confidently by curling a right-footed shot around the goalkeeper and into the far corner. 2-2.

Inspired by their equaliser, the Dons started the second half brightly and they were denied a third goal on 51 minutes when McKenzie-Lyle produced a stunning save to deny Nesbitt.

The Bees stopper then kept out a header from Finn Tapp moments later before Nombe flashed wide after being found by Nigel Reo-Coker. That was Nombe’s final involvement as he replaced in the 62nd minute by Matthew Sorinola, with McGrandles also making way for Jay Bird.

Rubio’s men were in control of the contest but against the run of play, Barnet re-took the lead courtesy of a bending strike from Fumn Shomotun on 70 minutes. 2-3.

Looking to salvage a draw, the Dons saw Jackson poke wide from a corner and Nesbitt send a deflected effort into the side netting.

The third and final equaliser then arrived with five minutes to play after Tilney powered his way into space inside the area. The full-back’s eventual shot was saved by McKenzie-Lyle but Furlong reacted quickly to pounce on the loose ball and finish into an empty net, earning his side a share of the result. 3-3.

Starting XI: Sietsma; Kasumu, Tapp, Jackson, Tilney; McGrandles (Sorinola 62), Reo-Coker (Sole 80); Furlong, Rasulo, Nesbitt; Nombe (Bird 62).

Unused subs: Jones, Hope.

Goals: Nombe (7, 45+2), Furlong (85)