The Under-18s secured their first win of the new Youth Alliance League campaign thanks to a Callum Brittain hat-trick against Cambridge United on Saturday morning.
The midfielder’s treble helped the Dons to victory in their first home game of the season as they bounced back from a disappointing result at Northampton Town last week.
The first chance of the match fell to Mike Dove’s side inside the first five minutes - midfielder Dominic Palmiero’s free-kick just going over the crossbar.
Chances were limited throughout the opening half an hour, however the Dons did take the lead on 34 minutes when a long ball forward hit Brittain and ended up in the net, with the midfielder seemingly not knowing much about it.
A few minutes later the hosts had a chance to double their lead when left-back Juma Omar, who looked lively throughout, hit a shot from range just over the right-hand angle of post and bar.
Although Dove’s boys went into the interval with an advantage, Cambridge were beginning to have more of the play and on 56 minutes they had their best chance when, during a goalmouth scramble, the ball hit the post before being cleared.
However, any nerves the young Dons were settled slightly on 70 minutes when they doubled their lead courtesy of Brittain, who impressively fired a shot into the left hand side of the net from around 20 yards out.
The Dons’ number seven was never far away from the action and soon after doubling his tally, he hit a free-kick just over the crossbar.
Dove’s side then nearly wrapped the game up once and for all on 87 minutes when substitute Andrew Osei-Bonsu drilled a ball across the area for striker Sam Nombe but he couldn’t quite connect with as he slid in by the penalty spot.
Then, with one minute remaining, Brittain was given his chance to complete his hat-trick when he was invited to take a penalty given for a foul inside the box.
The midfielder stepped up confidently and with the final kick of the match blasted the ball into the bottom left-hand corner to claim the match ball and put the icing on a first win of the season for the Dons.
After the match, Director of Youth Dove said: “Callum was ill a week ago so he couldn’t play last week. I said before the game I was excited to see him play because of how well he had been doing in training and I’m so pleased he got three goals.
“He had energy from the start, I’m not sure he knew much about the header but the strike on his left foot was excellent.
He continued: “I was disappointed with our application and attitude last week. The players have reacted and got the outcome we wanted – a clean sheet and a win.”
Starting XI: McCorkell: Stratton (Kioso 81), Steele, Hunt (c), Omar; Palmiero, Hadden; Furlong; Brittain, Owusu (Osei-Bonsu 68), Nombe
Unused subs: Pickworth, Jackson, Kasumu
Goals: Brittain 34, 70, 90 pen
The first chance of the match fell to Mike Dove’s side inside the first five minutes - midfielder Dominic Palmiero’s free-kick just going over the crossbar.
Chances were limited throughout the opening half an hour, however the Dons did take the lead on 34 minutes when a long ball forward hit Brittain and ended up in the net, with the midfielder seemingly not knowing much about it.
A few minutes later the hosts had a chance to double their lead when left-back Juma Omar, who looked lively throughout, hit a shot from range just over the right-hand angle of post and bar.
Although Dove’s boys went into the interval with an advantage, Cambridge were beginning to have more of the play and on 56 minutes they had their best chance when, during a goalmouth scramble, the ball hit the post before being cleared.
However, any nerves the young Dons were settled slightly on 70 minutes when they doubled their lead courtesy of Brittain, who impressively fired a shot into the left hand side of the net from around 20 yards out.
The Dons’ number seven was never far away from the action and soon after doubling his tally, he hit a free-kick just over the crossbar.
Dove’s side then nearly wrapped the game up once and for all on 87 minutes when substitute Andrew Osei-Bonsu drilled a ball across the area for striker Sam Nombe but he couldn’t quite connect with as he slid in by the penalty spot.
Then, with one minute remaining, Brittain was given his chance to complete his hat-trick when he was invited to take a penalty given for a foul inside the box.
The midfielder stepped up confidently and with the final kick of the match blasted the ball into the bottom left-hand corner to claim the match ball and put the icing on a first win of the season for the Dons.
After the match, Director of Youth Dove said: “Callum was ill a week ago so he couldn’t play last week. I said before the game I was excited to see him play because of how well he had been doing in training and I’m so pleased he got three goals.
“He had energy from the start, I’m not sure he knew much about the header but the strike on his left foot was excellent.
He continued: “I was disappointed with our application and attitude last week. The players have reacted and got the outcome we wanted – a clean sheet and a win.”
Starting XI: McCorkell: Stratton (Kioso 81), Steele, Hunt (c), Omar; Palmiero, Hadden; Furlong; Brittain, Owusu (Osei-Bonsu 68), Nombe
Unused subs: Pickworth, Jackson, Kasumu
Goals: Brittain 34, 70, 90 pen
