MK Dons Under-23s secured the Central Development League South title on Tuesday afternoon as they overcame Peterborough United 3-2.
The Young Dons had to come behind twice to secure the league title, with two late Brandon Thomas-Asante goals proving pivotal.
As has been the case for most of the season, the Under-23s lined up with a mixture of youth and experience.
Stuart Moore, Lawson D’Ath and Ryan Watson were all handed starts, while youngsters Oran Jackson, David Kasumu, Sam Nombe, Dylan Asonganyi and Brandon Thomas-Asante all took to the field from the first whistle.
Elsewhere, Charlie Pattison, Jamal Sule and Finn Brennan completed the starting line-up.
Peterborough enjoyed a perfect start to the game as they took the lead just three minutes into the game. Their striker received the ball in the box with his back to goal before he fired past Moore to give his side an early lead. 0-1.
The Dons looked to reply immediately and could’ve done so if it wasn’t for the post. Jamal Sule played a 60-yard raking pass over the top of Peterborough’s defence into the path of Sam Nombe – his chipped effort rebounded back off the post and into the arms of the Peterborough keeper.
The search for an equaliser continued on 13-minutes, Thomas-Asante displayed his pace to beat his marker before he was fouled inside the box, however, the referee waved away the penalty claims.
Jamal Sule then came close to scoring his first goal for the Under-23s, his header ended wide of the post.
The sustained period of pressure from the Dons soon paid off with Asonganyi on hand to equalise. The goal came from good work out wide by Nombe, and after he beat his man, the forward delivered a low cross towards Asonganyi who converted at the front-post. 1-1.
Asonganyi could’ve had his second goal of the game on 24-minutes with Moore almost turning provider. The keeper claimed a Peterborough corner confidently before sending the Asonganyi on the counter, he found himself on in goal, however, the Posh keeper was equal to his effort.
The Dons were looking dangerous from set-pieces, both Jackson and Sule went close from Watson corners as they looked to put the hosts ahead.
The chances continued to fall the way of the Dons as Nombe was next to try his luck – his effort from inside the box was blocked.
Peterborough were then awarded a free-kick just outside the box, one that ended narrowly wide of Moore’s goal.
The final chance of the first half fell the way of Asonganyi, his shot on goal was saved by Peterborough’s keeper, with the rebound falling into the path of Thomas-Asante, just as it looked like the forward would tap home from close range, the offside flag was raised against him.
Just minutes into the second-half, Peterborough were awarded a free-kick, they opted to cross towards the back post – Moore was off his line quickly to claim.
With 50-minutes on the clock, Thomas-Asante used his pace to get in behind the Peterborough defence, he crossed towards the back post where Asonganyi was waiting – his header was saved.
Thomas-Asante then forced the Peterborough keeper into a save at his near post, before Sule headed wide from the corner.
With 20-minutes to go, Peterborough took the lead. The Posh winger showed trickery and pace to create some space for a cross before his low delivery was converted at the far post by the opposite winger. 1-2.
The Dons looked for an immediate equaliser, Thomas-Asante saw his curling effort ended in the arms of the keeper.
With 10-minutes left on the clock, the Dons were level. Nombe beat his man before picking out the run of Thomas-Asante who converted first time. 2-2.
Five minutes later, the Dons retook the lead as Thomas-Asante scoring his second of the afternoon. It all came about after a wonderful Jack Davies run, the Under-16 drove through the midfield before playing an outside of the foot pass into the path of Thomas-Asante, he rounded the keeper before converting into an empty net. 3-2.
