MK Dons Under-18s maintained their unbeaten home record with a 3-0 victory over Dagenham & Redbridge at Woughton-on-the-Green.
Goals from Dylan Asonganyi, Liam Sole and Recoe Martin helped the Dons to a comfortable victory against the Daggers, as they made it four wins out of four on home turf in the Youth Alliance League this season.
The young Dons took the lead seven minutes in with an impressive solo goal from Asonganyi – the number nine cut inside a couple of Daggers players and hit a left-footed shot from 25 yards which went low into the bottom left hand corner.
All the Dons’ good play was going through their number nine and on 27 minutes hehad a great chance to double the score however his header from Brad Bell’s cross went just over the bar.
A couple of minutes later, Edu Rubio’s side nearly profited from disastrous Daggers defending as the visitors conceded possession inside their own penalty area, however Asonganyi’s close range effort was parried away by the keeper.
The hosts were in complete control of the game and on 34 minutes good play from Jay Bird saw the number ten work himself space to shoot inside the area only for his effort to go just wide of the right post.
The Dons deservedly doubled their lead a minute before the break with another great individual goal from the lively Sole, who picked up the ball down the left and, from an acute angle, hit a shot which went in off the left hand post to make it 2-0.
In the second half, the pattern of Dons domination continued and on 57 minutes Bird’s firm shot from inside the box was parried just over the top by the Daggers keeper.
Five minutes later, the Dons had a double chance when a cross from the left took a wicked deflection, looped over the keeper and hit the crossbar. It then landed at the feet of Bell however his low shot from a tight angle was saved by the keeper at his near post.
The visitors from London created their clearest opening on 70 minutes as a ball in across the box evaded all incoming players and went narrowly wide of the far post.
Victory was wrapped up in the 84th minute by the Dons when a shot from a narrow angle by substitute Martin beat the Daggers keeper at his near post.
The goal sealed a professional 3-0 victory for the Under-18s, who had the game under control from first whistle to last.
After the match, Rubio said: “Today was exceptional – the players stuck to the game plan that we had pre-match and I couldn’t be happier with the performance.
“This victory comes at the end of a difficult week where the Under-18s have had three matches. We had our first defeat in the league a week ago when we conceded a late goal and the boys have bounced back fantastically.
“I am delighted with the application and attitude they have shown today and the fact that we restricted the opposition to very few chances. We remained solid at the back and compact throughout, and it was a very professional performance.
“We still have so many things to improve upon – we need to create more chances, get more crosses into the box and tidy up a few things at the back. Everything clicked today but that won’t always happen every week.”
Starting XI (4-2-3-1): Jones; Ackom, Tapp (c), Hope, Sorinola; Pattison, Kasumu (Wright 75); Bell, Sole (Martin 68), Bird; Asonganyi (Evans 46).
Sub not used: Pickworth.
Booked: Kasumu 66, Pattison 76.
Goals: Asonganyi (7), Sole (44), Martin (85).
