Milton Keynes Dons Under-18s survived a late fightback to beat Yeovil Town 4-3 in an eventful Youth Alliance League encounter at Woughton-on-the-Green on Friday afternoon.
The hosts led 2-0 at the break through goals from Andrew Osei-Bonsu and Sam Nombe before the Glovers pulled one back after the interval.
The Dons then stretched their lead through further strikes from Hugo Logan and Brandon Thomas-Asante before surviving a late fightback from the side from Somerset to hold on for the win.
The hosts, playing in red on a sunny afternoon, created their first real opening on 11 minutes when a shot from 20 yards out from captain Adam Hunt was tipped wide by the Yeovil keeper as it headed for the top corner.
Midway through the half, the Dons came even closer to a goal when the ball found Thomas-Asante inside the box, however the striker’s right-footed effort clipped the right-hand post before going wide of goal.
A minute later the deserved breakthrough came for the Dons as a defence-splitting pass found midfielder Osei-Bonsu who made space inside the box and hit a low right-footed shot into the corner to make it 1-0.
On the stroke of half-time the Dons doubled their advantage as a ball split the Yeovil defence and was touched towards goal by Nombe.
As the number nine looked to touch the ball across the line with the keeper already beaten, he had a nasty collision with the left-hand post, however he was OK to continue and the Dons went into the interval with a two-goal cushion.
Five minutes into the second half the Dons struck the woodwork again as a cross from the left was directed towards goal courtesy of a flicked backheel from midfielder Kevin Owusu however the effort lacked power and hit the right hand post before bouncing into the Yeovil keeper’s arms.
A few minutes later the visitors halved the deficit as a ball in from the right-hand touchline was slammed into the net from close range to make it 2-1.
The goals kept on coming and on 59 minutes the Dons two goal lead was restored as a through-ball found Logan on the edge of the area.
Logan, playing in the attacking midfielder role in this game, showed good composure to slide the ball past the Yeovil keeper to make it 3-1.
The hosts extended their lead on 80 minutes as a cross from the right hand side from sub Connor Furlong was headed into the net from five yards out by Thomas-Asante to give the Dons a 4-1 lead.
It appeared as though an element of complacency crept in as Yeovil started to come on strongly despite being three goals behind.
On 86 minutes the Glovers won a penalty after a foul by Peter Kioso and the Yeovil number nine stepped up and sent Dons keeper Andrew McCorkell the wrong way and made it 4-2.
The nerves really began to creep in on 89 minutes as a shot from outside the box, when it appeared there was little danger, found a way into the bottom left-hand corner to reduce the deficit again to 4-3.
The Dons managed to survive five minutes added time and held on for a win in what was an improved performance from their previous game but also one where lessons about game management could be learned.
After the match, Dons Director of Youth Mike Dove said: “I thought we started a bit slow in the first half. We weren’t composed on the ball and we rushed things and didn’t dominate by keeping possession.
“We took the lead and at half-time with a 2-0 lead I said well done but I said we also had to go on and really dominate and build on our advantage.
“We played with confidence and got further goals but after the fourth goal I was annoyed because we didn’t have the hunger and the determination to stay on top and get further goals like Swindon did to us on Tuesday.
“We relaxed and in the end had to scrap in added time to get the win and because of that we panicked and didn’t play our natural game. I was very disappointed about that.
“We shouldn’t go into the last minute in games when we have been 4-1 up worrying about not getting the win. That’s a big lesson for the boys."
MK Dons (3-4-1-2): McCorkell: Stratton (Brittain 45), Omar (Hadden 45), Jackson: Kioso, Osei-Bonsu, Hunt (capt), Owusu: Logan: Nombe (Furlong 54), Thomas-Asante.
Unused sub: Wyant.
Goals: Osei-Bonsu 23, Nombe 45, Logan 60, Thomas-Asante 80.
Referee: JA Guzman.
The Dons then stretched their lead through further strikes from Hugo Logan and Brandon Thomas-Asante before surviving a late fightback from the side from Somerset to hold on for the win.
The hosts, playing in red on a sunny afternoon, created their first real opening on 11 minutes when a shot from 20 yards out from captain Adam Hunt was tipped wide by the Yeovil keeper as it headed for the top corner.
Midway through the half, the Dons came even closer to a goal when the ball found Thomas-Asante inside the box, however the striker’s right-footed effort clipped the right-hand post before going wide of goal.
A minute later the deserved breakthrough came for the Dons as a defence-splitting pass found midfielder Osei-Bonsu who made space inside the box and hit a low right-footed shot into the corner to make it 1-0.
On the stroke of half-time the Dons doubled their advantage as a ball split the Yeovil defence and was touched towards goal by Nombe.
As the number nine looked to touch the ball across the line with the keeper already beaten, he had a nasty collision with the left-hand post, however he was OK to continue and the Dons went into the interval with a two-goal cushion.
Five minutes into the second half the Dons struck the woodwork again as a cross from the left was directed towards goal courtesy of a flicked backheel from midfielder Kevin Owusu however the effort lacked power and hit the right hand post before bouncing into the Yeovil keeper’s arms.
A few minutes later the visitors halved the deficit as a ball in from the right-hand touchline was slammed into the net from close range to make it 2-1.
The goals kept on coming and on 59 minutes the Dons two goal lead was restored as a through-ball found Logan on the edge of the area.
Logan, playing in the attacking midfielder role in this game, showed good composure to slide the ball past the Yeovil keeper to make it 3-1.
The hosts extended their lead on 80 minutes as a cross from the right hand side from sub Connor Furlong was headed into the net from five yards out by Thomas-Asante to give the Dons a 4-1 lead.
It appeared as though an element of complacency crept in as Yeovil started to come on strongly despite being three goals behind.
On 86 minutes the Glovers won a penalty after a foul by Peter Kioso and the Yeovil number nine stepped up and sent Dons keeper Andrew McCorkell the wrong way and made it 4-2.
The nerves really began to creep in on 89 minutes as a shot from outside the box, when it appeared there was little danger, found a way into the bottom left-hand corner to reduce the deficit again to 4-3.
The Dons managed to survive five minutes added time and held on for a win in what was an improved performance from their previous game but also one where lessons about game management could be learned.
After the match, Dons Director of Youth Mike Dove said: “I thought we started a bit slow in the first half. We weren’t composed on the ball and we rushed things and didn’t dominate by keeping possession.
“We took the lead and at half-time with a 2-0 lead I said well done but I said we also had to go on and really dominate and build on our advantage.
“We played with confidence and got further goals but after the fourth goal I was annoyed because we didn’t have the hunger and the determination to stay on top and get further goals like Swindon did to us on Tuesday.
“We relaxed and in the end had to scrap in added time to get the win and because of that we panicked and didn’t play our natural game. I was very disappointed about that.
“We shouldn’t go into the last minute in games when we have been 4-1 up worrying about not getting the win. That’s a big lesson for the boys."
MK Dons (3-4-1-2): McCorkell: Stratton (Brittain 45), Omar (Hadden 45), Jackson: Kioso, Osei-Bonsu, Hunt (capt), Owusu: Logan: Nombe (Furlong 54), Thomas-Asante.
Unused sub: Wyant.
Goals: Osei-Bonsu 23, Nombe 45, Logan 60, Thomas-Asante 80.
Referee: JA Guzman.
