MK Dons Under-18s drew 2-2 with Winslow United’s senior side in their first friendly on the summer.
The young Dons, who were without quartet Oran Jackson, David Kasumu, Sam Nombe and Brandon Thomas-Asante due to their first-team commitments, opened the scoring at Elmsfield Gate but had to fight back in the second half to earn a draw, after the hosts came from behind to lead. Bradley Bell and Dylan Asongani (pictured) grabbed the Dons' two goals.
Mike Dove’s team, who begin their 2016/17 campaign in just two weeks’ time, made a positive start to the game and despite their inexperience, displayed the free-flowing football that people have become accustomed to seeing from a Dons Academy side.
They deservedly took the lead on 21 minutes when Bradley Bell latched onto Dylan Asonganyi’s pass and finished cooly past Winslow goalkeeper Nick Bennion. 0-1.
The hosts, though, equalised with a penalty just eight minutes later after goalscorer Charlie Flanaghan was fouled in the box. 1-1.
Nathan Pickworth was then forced into a strong save by midfielder Ollie Lynch, to keep the scores level heading into the interval.
In the second half, Winslow edged ahead when Grant Karwacinski tapped in from close-range after Michael Read’s header was parried. 2-1.
Not to be denied in their opening match of the campaign, the Dons responded instantly, drawing level courtesy of striker Asonganyi, who finished into an empty net from Andrew Osei-Bonsu’s cutback – the midfielder carried the ball from the halfway line before teeing up his teammate. 2-2.
Both sides had chances to win the game but with the result of little importance during pre-season, Dove would have just been pleased to see his young side impress in their first outing of 2016/17.
Starting XI: Pickworth; Kioso, Omar, Tapp, Hope; Osei-Bonsu, Bell; Evans, Logan, Philpott (Pattison 46 (Bonsu 81)); Asonganyi.
Mike Dove’s team, who begin their 2016/17 campaign in just two weeks’ time, made a positive start to the game and despite their inexperience, displayed the free-flowing football that people have become accustomed to seeing from a Dons Academy side.
They deservedly took the lead on 21 minutes when Bradley Bell latched onto Dylan Asonganyi’s pass and finished cooly past Winslow goalkeeper Nick Bennion. 0-1.
The hosts, though, equalised with a penalty just eight minutes later after goalscorer Charlie Flanaghan was fouled in the box. 1-1.
Nathan Pickworth was then forced into a strong save by midfielder Ollie Lynch, to keep the scores level heading into the interval.
In the second half, Winslow edged ahead when Grant Karwacinski tapped in from close-range after Michael Read’s header was parried. 2-1.
Not to be denied in their opening match of the campaign, the Dons responded instantly, drawing level courtesy of striker Asonganyi, who finished into an empty net from Andrew Osei-Bonsu’s cutback – the midfielder carried the ball from the halfway line before teeing up his teammate. 2-2.
Both sides had chances to win the game but with the result of little importance during pre-season, Dove would have just been pleased to see his young side impress in their first outing of 2016/17.
Starting XI: Pickworth; Kioso, Omar, Tapp, Hope; Osei-Bonsu, Bell; Evans, Logan, Philpott (Pattison 46 (Bonsu 81)); Asonganyi.
