MK Dons shared the points at Meadow Lane after an entertaining 3-3 match which both teams had chances to win.
Max Dean’s sensational opener was cancelled out by Sam Austin’s close-range finish in the first half before Alassana Jatta put County ahead immediately after the break.
Substitute Ellis Harrison made an instant impact scoring within minutes of coming on before his cheeky chip with five minutes to play put the Dons ahead.
Notts County eventually managed to pull back an equaliser in stoppage time when Aaron Nemane turned in from the back post.
Mike Williamson made three changes to the side that beat Walsall 5-0 on Good Friday, with Max Dean, Dan Kemp and Filip Marschall all coming into the starting XI.
There were places on the bench for Emre Tezgel and Michael Kelly, while Joe Tomlinson dropped out of the squad through injury and was replaced by the returning Jack Tucker.
FIRST HALF
Notts County had the opening chance of the game, Dan Crowley picked the ball up in midfield and ran towards the Dons’ area but was well marshalled by Daniel Harvie who saw it out for a corner.
The Scottish defender then helped start MK Dons' first attack by going on an energetic run up the wing before finding Stephen Wearne in County’s half. The Dons’ number 24 then sent a curled cross into the box but saw it go over the byline and out of play.
In the eighth minute Notts County should have taken the lead, Adam Chicken fired a lovely cross into the box for Alassana Jatta to attack but the forward mistimed his header and sent it well wide from a good position.
Warren O’Hora was the unlikely architect of MK Dons' next attack, the defender pulled off a brilliant challenge to steal possession at one end and went on a great run through midfield before his final pass was intercepted.
In the 18th minute MK Dons took the lead! Max Dean fashioned a chance out of absolutely nothing on the edge of Notts County’s area after picking the ball up from Jack Payne. With one touch the young striker got the ball out of his feet and turned his marker before letting rip from the edge of the area with an absolute rocket that flew in under the crossbar. 1-0.
Five minutes later Notts County thought they’d scored their own shot from distance, Macaulay Langstaff let fire with a thumping effort from at least 35 yards but saw it rattle against the crossbar.
Moments afterwards Notts County had another chance when Aaron Nemane ran at the MK Dons defenders and sent a ball into the box with pace, the Magpies managed to get a head on it but Cameron Norman valiantly denied what looked like a certain goal with a brilliant clearance off the line.
With just over half an hour played the Dons were looking to add to their lead, Daniel Harvie combined well with Alex Gilbey and Stephen Wearne in the final third before the ball was played out to Jack Payne on the edge of the area. The midfielder let fire with a powerful shot but it flew over Luca Ashby-Hammond’s crossbar.
Not long afterwards Notts County fashioned a chance of their own, Jack Payne was surrounded in midfield and did well to hold off three or four players before eventually being dispossessed. Macaulay Langstaff picked up the ball and let fire from distance only for his shot to be deflected out of play by Cameron Norman.
In the 39th minute Lewis Bate was handed the first yellow card of the afternoon, with Cameron Norman also booked shortly afterwards.
In first-half stoppage time County created another chance to score thanks to a threatening Dan Crowley cross, but Cameron Norman was on hand again to clear the ball away from danger.
Moments before half-time Notts County had equalised. Aaron Nemane found Dan Crowley in the box with a pinpoint pass, the winger squared the ball to Alassana Jatta who fluffed his initial chance before Sam Austin stabbed home from close range. 1-1.
SECOND HALF
Notts County started the second half with an immediate goal. Adam Chicksen did well to pick the ball up in MK Dons’ half before sending a fantastic ball into the box. Alassana Jatta rose highest to meet it around the penalty area and thumped his header home. 2-1.
A couple of minutes later Macaulay Langstaff had a shot from distance for the hosts but his effort was always going wide.
Notts County had another chance to score in the 57th minute, the ball fell to Aaron Nemane on the edge of the MK Dons penalty area but he sent his driven effort comfortably over the bar.
Not long afterwards Macaulay Langstaff was booked for a nasty challenge on Stephen Wearne.
With around an hour played Mike Willamson made a triple substation, with Emre Tezgel, Ellis Harrison and Ethan Robson replacing Max Dean, Dan Kemp and Lewis Bate.
The substitutions made an instant impact as MK Dons levelled the score! Ethan Robson found space on the edge of Notts County’s area and let fly with a driven effort but his shot was blocked and fell at the feet of Stephen Wearne. The attacker was then able to play in Ellis Harrison who turned brilliantly before dispatching the ball into the bottom corner. 2-2.
Notts County thought they had an opportunity in the Dons’ area in the 72nd minute only for Ethan Robson to cleverly nick the ball off Dan Crowley’s toes and clear the ball away.
With around 15 minutes left to play MK Dons had a great chance to take the lead, Alex Gilbey played an accurate pass through to Ellis Harrison who squared the ball into the box for an MK Dons player to attack. The ball bobbled around in the six-yard area before falling to Emre Tezgel whose driven effort into the ground bounced up and away from the goal.
Not long afterwards the Dons had another opportunity, Ethan Robson floated a lovely ball into the box for Ellis Harrison to attack but the striker couldn’t keep his header on target.
With eight minutes to play David McGoldrick managed to squeeze a ball into the MK Dons area but there was no one in a black and white shirt there to attack it.
Moments later MK Dons took the lead! Ellis Harrison found himself one-on-one with the goalkeeper after being played in by Emre Tezgel. The striker kept his cool in a high-pressure situation to pull off an audacious dinked shot over Luca Ashby-Hammond and put the Dons in front. 3-2.
With five minutes to play Mike Williamson made another change, with MJ Williams replacing Jack Payne.
Not long afterwards Notts County had a chance from a free-kick in a dangerous area, David McGoldrick let fire from around 20 yards but Warren O’Hora did well to block it.
In the first minute of stoppage time Notts County equalised, Jodi Jones sent a low cross into the box which was met well by Aaron Nemane at the back post. 3-3.
***
MK Dons: Marschall, Norman, O’Hora, Gilbey (C), Payne (Williams 86), Dean (Tezgel 61), Harvie, Wearne, Kemp (Harrison 61), Lofthouse, Bate (Robson 61)
Subs: Kelly, Lewington, Tucker
Goals: Dean 18, Harrison 64 + 83
Yellow cards: Bate 39, Norman 39, Harvie 90+6
Notts County: Ashby-Hammond, Cameron (C), Crowley, Austin (Bostock 56), Langstaff, Nemane, Baldwin, Robertson, Chicksen (Jones 80), Macari (Warner 72), Jatta (McGoldrick 80)
Subs: Slocombe, O’Brien, Scott
Goals: Austin 45+4, Jatta 48, Nemane 90+1
Yellow cards: Langstaff 59, Roberston 90+6
Referee: Nigel Faulconbridge
Stadium: Meadow Lane
Attendance: 10,439 (1,168)
