The Dons continued their pre-season campaign with a 1-1 draw at Sky Bet League 2 side Mansfield Town.
Karl Robinson’s men fell behind to a stunning strike from Nathan Thomas but Daniel Powell equalised in the second half in another good run-out.
The opening chance of the evening fell to Darren Potter, making his first appearance of pre-season on home soil, but he dragged his 20-yard shot wide of the post on nine minutes.
Mansfield grew into the game and Matt Green had the ball in the back of the net not long after but it was correctly ruled out for offside.
At the other end, Simon Church saw a shot well blocked from just inside the box after a clever run before Carl Baker was crowded out in the Stags’ box.
The Dons were looking more likely as the half went on and only some fantastic last-ditch defending from Krystian Pearce denied Church an almost-certain opening goal.
But it was the hosts who took the lead on the stroke of half-time when Thomas curled home a stunning 25-yard effort into the top right-hand corner.
Baker stung the palms of Scott Shearer with a low drive in the opening exchanges of the second half, but there was nothing the keeper could do just before the hour mark.
Powell was the man to equalise for the Dons, turning the ball home at the second attempt after initially being freed down the right.
Joe Walsh, Lee Hodson and Dean Bowditch were all introduced with 20 minutes remaining – Jordan Spence, Kyle McFadzean and Potter making way.
They were joined by Giorgio Rasulo and Dale Jennings, who replaced Ben Reeves and Church, but it was one of the starters, Baker, who was the next to test Shearer with a drive from distance with just under 10 minutes remaining.
The Dons were camped in their opponents' half late on but they couldn’t find a further breakthrough against a stubborn home defence.
MK Dons: Martin; Spence (Hodson 69), McFadzean (Walsh 69), Kay, Lewington; Potter (Bowditch 69), Carruthers; Baker, Reeves (Rasulo 80), Powell; Church (Jennings 80).
Unused subs: Cropper, Tshimanga.
Goal: Powell (59).
The opening chance of the evening fell to Darren Potter, making his first appearance of pre-season on home soil, but he dragged his 20-yard shot wide of the post on nine minutes.
Mansfield grew into the game and Matt Green had the ball in the back of the net not long after but it was correctly ruled out for offside.
At the other end, Simon Church saw a shot well blocked from just inside the box after a clever run before Carl Baker was crowded out in the Stags’ box.
The Dons were looking more likely as the half went on and only some fantastic last-ditch defending from Krystian Pearce denied Church an almost-certain opening goal.
But it was the hosts who took the lead on the stroke of half-time when Thomas curled home a stunning 25-yard effort into the top right-hand corner.
Baker stung the palms of Scott Shearer with a low drive in the opening exchanges of the second half, but there was nothing the keeper could do just before the hour mark.
Powell was the man to equalise for the Dons, turning the ball home at the second attempt after initially being freed down the right.
Joe Walsh, Lee Hodson and Dean Bowditch were all introduced with 20 minutes remaining – Jordan Spence, Kyle McFadzean and Potter making way.
They were joined by Giorgio Rasulo and Dale Jennings, who replaced Ben Reeves and Church, but it was one of the starters, Baker, who was the next to test Shearer with a drive from distance with just under 10 minutes remaining.
The Dons were camped in their opponents' half late on but they couldn’t find a further breakthrough against a stubborn home defence.
MK Dons: Martin; Spence (Hodson 69), McFadzean (Walsh 69), Kay, Lewington; Potter (Bowditch 69), Carruthers; Baker, Reeves (Rasulo 80), Powell; Church (Jennings 80).
Unused subs: Cropper, Tshimanga.
Goal: Powell (59).
