MK Dons Under-18s ended 2016 on a high with an 8-2 victory against Dagenham & Redbridge at Woughton-on-the-Green.
During one of their best performances of the season so far, the Dons scored six in the first half as Brandon Thomas-Asante and Andrew Osei-Bonsu both netted braces.
Thomas-Asante completed his hat-trick after the break while further goals from Peter Kioso, Sam Nombe and Bradley Bell gave the Dons a comfortable victory.
The hosts took the lead six minutes in from what was to be the first of three set piece goals. A corner was whipped in from the left by Bell and an unmarked Kioso headed in at the near post – 1-0.
Four minutes later the Dons doubled their advantage as a shot from a tight angle from Osei-Bonsu went underneath the Daggers keeper and into the net – 2-0.
The clinical edge that had sometimes been lacking in matches earlier in the season was prevalent today as the Dons made it three on 17 minutes.
Thomas-Asante controlled, turned and powerfully finished a cross which right-winger Kioso had drilled into the box – 3-0.
There was no let up from the Dons who continued to create chances at will as they outplayed the side from London.
Thomas-Asante scored his second of the game on 33 minutes as he hit a free-kick from about 25 yards out which evaded the wall and went into the corner of the net with the Dagenham keeper a mere spectator – 4-0.
The goals continued to flow as five minutes later Nombe beat a Daggers player and hit a low shot from the edge of the box which went in off the post – 5-0.
A memorable first half was capped off in style for the Dons in the 44th minute as a quickly taken free-kick was squared to Osei-Bonsu whose first time curling effort ricocheted in off the post with the keeper beaten to make it 6-0 at the break.
The goal-hungry Dons made it a magnificent seven three minutes into the second half as Thomas-Asante completed his hat-trick with a 30-yard free-kick which went over the wall and low into the bottom left hand corner of the net.
Although the Dons were posing a constant threat the visitors improved in the second half and had a spell where they were on top around the hour mark.
With 15 minutes left the Dons lost their clean sheet as the Daggers pulled a goal back when a cross from the left was finished from around the penalty spot to make it 7-1.
The Londoners got another goal back on 79 minutes when a corner from the right was headed in to make it 7-2.
The Dons had the last word despite having only 10-men on the field due to captain Oran Jackson being unable to continue after suffering an ankle injury and their only substitute having been used.
On 87 minutes a cross was converted from virtually on the goal-line by Bell to give a final score of 8-2.
It was a great way for the under-18s to end 2016 and in front of Robbie Neilson, the Dons could have scored double figures such was their domination.
After the match, director of academy coaching Edu Rubio said: "Today was one of those days where everything went our way.
"We were very clinical, created loads of chances and there was a lot of very positive forward play with very good off-the-ball movement – I think that was the key to our success today.
"One of our targets at half-time was to finish the game with a clean sheet and that didn't happen. Other than that, though, the boys did very well.
"The players have set the standard and going forward, regardless of score-lines, if we can keep up the hard work, desire, attitude and winning mentality then we can do well for the rest of the season."
Starting XI (3-4-1-2): Jones; Hope, Jackson (c), Omar; Bell, Kasumu, Wright, Kioso; Osei-Bonsu; Nombe, Thomas-Asante (Bird 78).
Subs not used: None
Goals: Thomas-Asante (17, 33, 48), Osei-Bonsu (10, 44), Kioso (6), Nombe (38), Bell (87).
Thomas-Asante completed his hat-trick after the break while further goals from Peter Kioso, Sam Nombe and Bradley Bell gave the Dons a comfortable victory.
The hosts took the lead six minutes in from what was to be the first of three set piece goals. A corner was whipped in from the left by Bell and an unmarked Kioso headed in at the near post – 1-0.
Four minutes later the Dons doubled their advantage as a shot from a tight angle from Osei-Bonsu went underneath the Daggers keeper and into the net – 2-0.
The clinical edge that had sometimes been lacking in matches earlier in the season was prevalent today as the Dons made it three on 17 minutes.
Thomas-Asante controlled, turned and powerfully finished a cross which right-winger Kioso had drilled into the box – 3-0.
There was no let up from the Dons who continued to create chances at will as they outplayed the side from London.
Thomas-Asante scored his second of the game on 33 minutes as he hit a free-kick from about 25 yards out which evaded the wall and went into the corner of the net with the Dagenham keeper a mere spectator – 4-0.
The goals continued to flow as five minutes later Nombe beat a Daggers player and hit a low shot from the edge of the box which went in off the post – 5-0.
A memorable first half was capped off in style for the Dons in the 44th minute as a quickly taken free-kick was squared to Osei-Bonsu whose first time curling effort ricocheted in off the post with the keeper beaten to make it 6-0 at the break.
The goal-hungry Dons made it a magnificent seven three minutes into the second half as Thomas-Asante completed his hat-trick with a 30-yard free-kick which went over the wall and low into the bottom left hand corner of the net.
Although the Dons were posing a constant threat the visitors improved in the second half and had a spell where they were on top around the hour mark.
With 15 minutes left the Dons lost their clean sheet as the Daggers pulled a goal back when a cross from the left was finished from around the penalty spot to make it 7-1.
The Londoners got another goal back on 79 minutes when a corner from the right was headed in to make it 7-2.
The Dons had the last word despite having only 10-men on the field due to captain Oran Jackson being unable to continue after suffering an ankle injury and their only substitute having been used.
On 87 minutes a cross was converted from virtually on the goal-line by Bell to give a final score of 8-2.
It was a great way for the under-18s to end 2016 and in front of Robbie Neilson, the Dons could have scored double figures such was their domination.
After the match, director of academy coaching Edu Rubio said: "Today was one of those days where everything went our way.
"We were very clinical, created loads of chances and there was a lot of very positive forward play with very good off-the-ball movement – I think that was the key to our success today.
"One of our targets at half-time was to finish the game with a clean sheet and that didn't happen. Other than that, though, the boys did very well.
"The players have set the standard and going forward, regardless of score-lines, if we can keep up the hard work, desire, attitude and winning mentality then we can do well for the rest of the season."
Starting XI (3-4-1-2): Jones; Hope, Jackson (c), Omar; Bell, Kasumu, Wright, Kioso; Osei-Bonsu; Nombe, Thomas-Asante (Bird 78).
Subs not used: None
Goals: Thomas-Asante (17, 33, 48), Osei-Bonsu (10, 44), Kioso (6), Nombe (38), Bell (87).
