MK Dons continued their pre-season schedule with a friendly at St James Park as they took on Vanarama National League North side Brackley Town.
Those in Paul Tisdale's squad were handed more minutes in the build-up to the upcoming Sky Bet League Two
The first-half 11 saw Lee Nicholls captain a mixture of youth and experience with Finn Tapp partnering Jordan Moore-Taylor in defence. In midfield, Ryan Watson sat alongside Ouss Cisse and Conor McGrandles with Robbie Simpson, Aidan Nesbitt and Robbie Muirhead making up the front three.
In the second half, Joe Walsh continued his injury rehabilitation process with another 45-minutes, while new signing Jordan Houghton played the final 30-minutes.
The hosts, Brackley, made a strong start and, after some smart defending from Callum Brittain, they won a corner within the first minute of the match. Gareth Dean met the corner as he headed into the path of Richards, who converted from close range. 1-0.
The Dons almost replied within a matter of minutes, Callum Brittain threaded a great pass into the path of Aidan Nesbitt who saw his cross cleared at the front post - a cross that was inches away from Simpson's foot.
Muirhead, who was occupying the left-wing position during the opening minutes of the game, was involved heavily throughout the first 45 minutes - his first chance deflected behind for a corner on seven minutes.
Just seconds later, his volley from the edge of the box sailed narrowly over before his right footed strike was claimed by Lewis in the Brackley goal.
Muirhead had yet another chance on 15-minutes. McGrandles was the driving force in creating the chance as he drove the Dons over the half-way line before finding Simpson. The striker, who was marked by two defenders, prodded the pass into the path of Muirhead however he couldn't keep his shot down.
Just as Paul Tisdale's side were starting to control proceedings, Brackley should've made it two. Glenn Walker floated a cross into the path of goalscorer Richards who saw his volley blocked by a combination of Moore-Taylor and Tapp.
With 25-minutes on the clock, Muirhead almost drew the Dons level in emphatic fashion. Having picked up the ball on the left, the Scot nutmegged his marker before his whipped shot from a tight angle cannoned off the bar.
The 22-year-old was once again denied - this time by some superb defending from Dean. Having beat the keeper with his curling striker, the Brackley defender appeared out of nowhere to head clear.
Walker then threatened for Town - after cutting inside onto his right foot his powerful strike was claimed by Nicholls.
Cisse had the final chance of the first-half. After Muirhead's free-kick hit the wall, the forward found Hancox out wide whose cross was headed wide by the Mali midfielder.
At the break, Tisdale made 10 changes to his first-half team with Ryan Watson the sole survivor. There were more minutes handed to Joe Walsh, while club Captain Dean Lewington took the armband.
Second-half subsiture Sam Nombe looked to make an immediate impact from the bench - his cross was put behind at the near post before the resulting corner he fired over from the edge of the box.
Liam Sole injected some pace and directness after entering the field - he was found by Pawlett before his curling shot ended just wide of the right post.
Dons put their opponents under pressure as the game drew to a close but couldn't find a way through a stern defence.
The result wasn't the important thing for Tisdale's men, though - seeing his side come through another fixture will please him more ahead of their pre-season training camp in Spain, which begins on Sunday.
First-half XI: Nicholls; Brittain, Tapp, Moore-Taylor, Hancox; Watson, Cisse, McGrandles; Nesbitt, Simpson, Muirhead.
Second-half XI: Sietsma; Williams, Jackson, Walsh, Lewington; Watson (Houghton 60), Kasumu; Nombe, Pawlett, Sole; Agard.
Unused sub: Asonganyi.
