Milton Keynes Dons Under-18s began their Youth Alliance Merit League Two campaign with a 3-0 victory against Gillingham at Woughton-on-the-Green on Saturday morning.
Milton Keynes Dons Under-18s began their Youth Alliance Merit League Two campaign with a 3-0 victory against Gillingham at Woughton-on-the-Green on Saturday morning.
An early goal from Jay Bird, a penalty just before the break from Recoe Martin and a late goal by skipper Jack Hourican-Harvey gave the Dons a convincing victory against the side from Kent.
This was the third encounter between the teams this season, with the Dons ending a three-month winless run by coming from behind twice to the beat the Gills at Woughton in mid-December in their previous meeting.
The Dons took the lead in the fifth minute when a ball came to Bird in space just inside the box.
The number nine had time to control the ball and stroked it home confidently to make it the best possible start for the hosts – 1-0.
Despite controlling the majority of the first half, the Dons did not create any clear chances, however, they remained solid at the back and offered the Gills very few openings.
Five minutes before the break the Dons were awarded a penalty after a three-way collision just inside the box involving two Gills players, one of which was the keeper, and a Dons attacker.
Recoe Martin took on penalty-taking duties and finished it with confidence high into the right-hand side of the net to give the Dons a deserved two-goal lead.
The Dons dominance of proceedings continued in the second half and they had another good opening in the 53rd minute when a through ball found Jamie Robinson inside the box but his close-range effort was blocked by the visitor's keeper.
A couple of minutes later the Dons created another opening after a ball was whipped in from the left and headed over the bar by Delsin Ackom.
The victory was secured ten minutes from time for the Dons through a set piece when a free-kick was played in from the right-hand side by Bird before skipper Hourican-Harvey glanced a header into the net to make it 3-0.
There was a further chance for the Dons three minutes from time when Martin produced a good driving run down the left-hand side before crossing into the box.
A close-range effort was blocked by the Gills keeper before the visitors scrambled the ball to safety.
Speaking after the match Edu Rubio said: “It was a very solid and professional performance from the boys today and I was impressed with the way that they controlled the game throughout.
“It is a great start to Merit League Two – our target for the rest of the season is to win as many games as possible and try to win the division if we can.
“The academy’s aim for the rest of the season is the same as always - to prepare players for first team football and hopefully help them get professional contracts.”
MK Dons: Jones, Sule, Leach, Ackom, Hourican-Harvey (capt), Wright (Brennan 62), Martin, Robinson, Bird (Dale 82), Asonganyi (Rowley 70), Sorinola (Davies 62).
Unused sub: Rose.
Booked: Bird 29, Hourican-Harvey 71.
Goals: Bird 5, Martin 41 pen, Hourican-Harvey 71.
