Tom Hitchcock scored one and made one as the Dons ran out comfortable 3-0 winners over Gillingham in the Final Third Development League Cup.
Hitchcock glanced home a header for the men from MK1 on 25 minutes before expertly laying on a goal for Giorgio Rasulo midway through the second half.
Mark Randall completed a convincing display in the final minutes, driving a fierce effort into the back of the net from 12 yards.
George Baldock set the tone with an early burst forward, which Daniel Powell backed up as he got to the byline and delivered a dangerous cross, but Danny Green fired wide after the visitors had failed to clear.
Trialist Daniel Whitehead fired off target from 20 yards on seven minutes, just as Gillingham striker Jack Sellens did shortly afterwards on their first foray forward.
Sellens was again in the thick of the action as the clock ticked towards the 15-minute mark but Luke Tingey put him under enough pressure as he tried to connect with Charlie Webster’s cross.
After a lull in proceedings, the lively Baldock hit the bar from 15 yards after breaking forward and exchanging a smart one-two with Hitchcock.
Hitchcock expertly headed the Dons in front on 25 minutes, glancing Green’s pinpoint delivery past Glenn Morris from 12 yards.
Antonio German hit the woodwork with a fierce drive before Josh Staunton forced Ian McLoughlin into a save as the Gills looked for a response ahead of the half-time whistle.
Green fired the first chance of the second half into the side-netting from 20 yards after being picked out by Powell.
Substitute Harry Hickford was then involved at both ends on 55 minutes – firstly being denied by Morris from Green’s set-piece before thwarting Sellens when the striker was well placed.
Having an increasing influence on the game, Green had a hand in the Dons going 2-0 up midway through the second half when he played in Hitchcock, who brilliantly back-heeled into the path of Rasulo to finish from close range.
McLoughlin maintained the 2-0 lead with a comfortable save from Sellens’ long-range effort before, fresh from crossing the 40-goal mark for the season, Kabongo Tshimanga was introduced in place of Powell with just under 15 minutes remaining.
Randall rounded off a good night’s work on 89 minutes, latching on to Green’s pass and firing emphatically past Morris from inside the area.
MK Dons: McLoughlin; Baldock, Hodson, Tingey (Hickford 46), Beesley (Tilney 66); Randall, Whitehead; Green, Rasulo, Powell (Tshimanga 78); Hitchcock.
Unused subs: White, Wiltshire, Hadden, Summerfield.
Bookings: Randall.
Goals: Hitchcock (25), Rasulo (67), Randall (89).
Mark Randall completed a convincing display in the final minutes, driving a fierce effort into the back of the net from 12 yards.
George Baldock set the tone with an early burst forward, which Daniel Powell backed up as he got to the byline and delivered a dangerous cross, but Danny Green fired wide after the visitors had failed to clear.
Trialist Daniel Whitehead fired off target from 20 yards on seven minutes, just as Gillingham striker Jack Sellens did shortly afterwards on their first foray forward.
Sellens was again in the thick of the action as the clock ticked towards the 15-minute mark but Luke Tingey put him under enough pressure as he tried to connect with Charlie Webster’s cross.
After a lull in proceedings, the lively Baldock hit the bar from 15 yards after breaking forward and exchanging a smart one-two with Hitchcock.
Hitchcock expertly headed the Dons in front on 25 minutes, glancing Green’s pinpoint delivery past Glenn Morris from 12 yards.
Antonio German hit the woodwork with a fierce drive before Josh Staunton forced Ian McLoughlin into a save as the Gills looked for a response ahead of the half-time whistle.
Green fired the first chance of the second half into the side-netting from 20 yards after being picked out by Powell.
Substitute Harry Hickford was then involved at both ends on 55 minutes – firstly being denied by Morris from Green’s set-piece before thwarting Sellens when the striker was well placed.
Having an increasing influence on the game, Green had a hand in the Dons going 2-0 up midway through the second half when he played in Hitchcock, who brilliantly back-heeled into the path of Rasulo to finish from close range.
McLoughlin maintained the 2-0 lead with a comfortable save from Sellens’ long-range effort before, fresh from crossing the 40-goal mark for the season, Kabongo Tshimanga was introduced in place of Powell with just under 15 minutes remaining.
Randall rounded off a good night’s work on 89 minutes, latching on to Green’s pass and firing emphatically past Morris from inside the area.
MK Dons: McLoughlin; Baldock, Hodson, Tingey (Hickford 46), Beesley (Tilney 66); Randall, Whitehead; Green, Rasulo, Powell (Tshimanga 78); Hitchcock.
Unused subs: White, Wiltshire, Hadden, Summerfield.
Bookings: Randall.
Goals: Hitchcock (25), Rasulo (67), Randall (89).
