The Dons’ Under-18s were crowned Youth Alliance Southern Cup champions after a 2-1 win over Cheltenham Town at stadiummk.
Goals from Ben Tilney and Kabongo Tshimanga on a sunny Wednesday afternoon secured the victory for Mike Dove’s side, who will now face either Wigan Athletic or Oldham Athletic in the national final.
Dove named a strong starting line-up for the clash, with professionals Giorgio Rasulo, Kabongo Tshimanga and Ben Tilney all included in the first XI and it was the latter of those three that opened the scoring 11 minutes in.
After a surging run down the right, Tilney played a one-two with Laurence Vaughan before guiding a shot across the Cheltenham keeper and into the far corner of the net.
The Dons’ ascendancy continued after the goal and Joe Steele went close to doubling the lead on 25 minutes with a right-footed shot which curled agonisingly wide of the post.
Rasulo then skimmed the crossbar for Dove’s side while, at the other end, Steele prevented the Robins from having their first shooting chance of the game with an excellently-timed sliding tackle on the edge of his box.
Ten minutes before half-time, Tshimanga forced a strong save out of the Cheltenham goalie before Rasulo clipped the post from the resulting corner – the Dons were dominant.
Despite the sweltering heat at stadiummk, the game continued at a reasonably high tempo after the break and Wiltshire came close to an early second half with a half-volley from the edge of the box that just bounced wide.
The Dons’ best chance to add a second goal came in the 54th minute when Tshimanga poked a ball through for Tilney, after the referee had played advantage following a foul on Vaughan, however, the right-back but couldn’t beat the keeper from 12-yards.
Cheltenham had their moments at the start of the second period but the Dons were remaining a constant threat on the attack and with 79 on the clock Tshimanga burst into the penalty area and drilled a low shot into the bottom corner to all-but seal the triumph.
The Robins did pull a goal back almost immediately from kick-off to give them a glimmer of hope but the Dons’ defence remained solid for the final 10 minutes to see out the victory and ensure a first Cup success for a Dons youth side.
MK Dons: McCorkell; Brittain, Tingey, Steele, Okito (c); Wiltshire, Hadden; Vaughan (Weston 80), Rasulo (Furlong 72), Tilney; Tshimanga.
Subs not used: Daffern, Palmiero, Owusu.
Goals: Tilney 11, Tshimanga 79
Dove named a strong starting line-up for the clash, with professionals Giorgio Rasulo, Kabongo Tshimanga and Ben Tilney all included in the first XI and it was the latter of those three that opened the scoring 11 minutes in.
After a surging run down the right, Tilney played a one-two with Laurence Vaughan before guiding a shot across the Cheltenham keeper and into the far corner of the net.
The Dons’ ascendancy continued after the goal and Joe Steele went close to doubling the lead on 25 minutes with a right-footed shot which curled agonisingly wide of the post.
Rasulo then skimmed the crossbar for Dove’s side while, at the other end, Steele prevented the Robins from having their first shooting chance of the game with an excellently-timed sliding tackle on the edge of his box.
Ten minutes before half-time, Tshimanga forced a strong save out of the Cheltenham goalie before Rasulo clipped the post from the resulting corner – the Dons were dominant.
Despite the sweltering heat at stadiummk, the game continued at a reasonably high tempo after the break and Wiltshire came close to an early second half with a half-volley from the edge of the box that just bounced wide.
The Dons’ best chance to add a second goal came in the 54th minute when Tshimanga poked a ball through for Tilney, after the referee had played advantage following a foul on Vaughan, however, the right-back but couldn’t beat the keeper from 12-yards.
Cheltenham had their moments at the start of the second period but the Dons were remaining a constant threat on the attack and with 79 on the clock Tshimanga burst into the penalty area and drilled a low shot into the bottom corner to all-but seal the triumph.
The Robins did pull a goal back almost immediately from kick-off to give them a glimmer of hope but the Dons’ defence remained solid for the final 10 minutes to see out the victory and ensure a first Cup success for a Dons youth side.
MK Dons: McCorkell; Brittain, Tingey, Steele, Okito (c); Wiltshire, Hadden; Vaughan (Weston 80), Rasulo (Furlong 72), Tilney; Tshimanga.
Subs not used: Daffern, Palmiero, Owusu.
Goals: Tilney 11, Tshimanga 79
