Dean Lewington returned to action and helped MK Dons Under-23s to a 3-1 victory over Forest Green Rovers at Brackley Town.
David Kasumu opened the scoring before a Sam Nombe brace as Edu Rubio’s side made it back-to-back wins in the Central League South.
Lewington was the standout name in Edu Rubio’s starting XI. The Club captain made his first Dons appearance since November as the senior figure in a relatively youthful side.
Inside the opening three minutes both Brandon Thomas-Asante and Giorgio Rasulo shot over the crossbar, the latter after receiving a defence-splitting pass from Lewington.
The Dons continued their dominance and it didn't take long for them to take a deserved lead as on 12 minutes, David Kasumu collected the ball on the edge of the Forest Green area and beat Harry Pickering with a right-footed effort. 1-0.
Almost immediately after the re-start, Rubio’s side won themselves a free-kick from which Giorgio Rasulo produced a save out of Harry Pickering, who then kept out an attempt from Sam Nombe.
Nombe went close again on 17 minutes before Thomas-Asante saw a shot deflect wide of the right post, after the forward had turned deep inside the Forest Green box.
The visitors threatened for the first time just before the half-hour mark when former Don Keanu Marsh-Brown played in teammate Tahvon Campbell. The striker got the shot away but it was blocked by a sliding tackle from Oran Jackson.
After dealing with the resulting corner, the Dons went straight up the other end and Thomas-Asante saw a one-on-one effort saved by Pickering.
They soon made it two-nil with Sam Nombe the scorer - the young forward finished cooly first-time from Hugo Logan’s cutback. 2-0.
Four minutes later, Nombe turned provider, getting to the byline and picking out Thomas-Asante with a cross. Unfortunately, Thomas-Asante was unable to turn home at the near post.
Forest Green Rovers were then presented with an opportunity to reduce the deficit after a foul on the edge of the area. Keanu Marsh-Brown took the set-piece and struck the crossbar but the loose ball fell kindly for Alex Whittle, who tapped into an empty net. 2-1.
At the start of the second half, the Dons went close through Rasulo, who produced a save out of Pickering. Rasulo followed up with another effort, which was sent wide of the right post.
Rubio’s side saw plenty of the ball but were unable to extend their advantage until the 73rd minute when Nombe drove deep into the Forest Green area and fired past Pickering in the Rovers goal. 3-1.
Starting XI: Sietsma; Tapp, Jackson, Lewington (c); Kasumu; Evans, Rasulo, Logan, Sole; Nombe, Thomas-Asante.
Subs: Jones, Wright, Hope, Pattison, Bird.
Goals: Kasumu (12), Nombe (33, 73)
