Post by Macmoish on Jul 16, 2010 7:59:56 GMT
MK DOns Official Site
OXFORD CITY 0 MK DONS 3
Thu 15 Jul 2010
MK Dons eased to a winning start in their pre-season friendly schedule with a comfortable 3-0 win at Oxford City.
A first-half goal from Luke Chadwick, a second just after the break from the impressive Angelo Balanta and a third in the dying seconds from trialist Oscar Martin Hernandez secured a victory for new boss Karl Robinson as preparations for the 2010/11 campaign started in earnest.
While fitness and match time will have been top of the priority just over three weeks ahead of the big kick-off at Walsall on 7th August, the win will certainly please Robinson, whose side showed a great deal of cohesion at such an early stage of their development.
Making their first trip to Court Place Farm, the Dons began with plenty of first team experience in their starting eleven - Robinson bucking the trend of previous seasons which has seen several trialists fielded in the summer's early friendly matches.
Jermaine Easter; Oxford City 0 MK Dons 3
Operating a fluid 4-2-3-1 formation which saw front man Jermaine Easter supported by the creative trio of Chadwick, Balanta and Lewis Guy, the Dons predictably seized control of the early exchanges.
Balanta went close with a curling effort after controlling young Tom Flanagan's excellent crossfield pass, before Easter rattled the crossbar after chasing onto Stephen Gleeson's throughball.
Along with midfield partner Peter Leven, Gleeson added an edge of class to the centre of the Dons midfield, allowing Balanta to provide the type of lively raid from which Chadwick opened the scoring.
Ominously afforded the space to turn and run at marker Andy Ballard, Balanta slipped effortless past the full-back and the recovering Olly Burgess on the left corner of the box. Oxford 'keeper Richard Knight repelled his shot superbly, but Chadwick was following up to steer in from close-range.
Lewis Guy; Oxford City 0 MK Dons 3
Lewis Guy played an hour in an attacking midfield role.
Controlling the game without carving out too many openings, only Peter Leven's off-target effort from distance threatened to extend the lead before half-time.
But within three minutes of the restart, Balanta had doubled the advantage - stabbing neatly past Knight after Chadwick's shot had deflected into his path.
The expected wholesale changes that arrived on the hour brought the likes of Jabo Ibehre, Adam Chicksen and Daniel Powell into the action, while trialists John-Paul Kissock, Ameican David Cowley and Spaniard Hernandez were handed their opportunity to shine.
Kissock, a product of the Everton academy and formerly of Scottish side Gretna, was busy around the middle of the park while Cowley, recently playing in the Glenn Hoddle Academy in Spain, provided some neat touches from the left flank.
Angelo Balanta scores; Oxford City 0 MK Dons 3
Angelo Balanta steers home the Dons' second.
Hernandez showed plenty of endeavour in the final third, though there was an element of fortune about his goal - 'keeper Knight caught in a terrible mess by one of his defenders and the Spaniard sweeping into the empty net.
Other positives for Robinson came in the shape of an excellent second-half performance from the adaptable Gleeson at right-back - the Irishman completing the 90 minutes comfortably along with Flanagan and Mathias Doumbe.
A winning start under Robinson's tenure and one he'll hope to build on at St Neots Town on Saturday.
Dons (4-2-3-1): Martin (Searle 60); Woodards (Carrington 45), Flanagan, Doumbe, Lewington (c) (Chicksen 60); Gleeson, Leven (Kissock 60); Guy (Powell 60), Chadwick (Cowley 60), Balanta (Hernandez 60); Easter (Ibehre 60).
Subs not used: Collins.
www.mkdons.com/page/NewsDetail/0,,10420~2093493,00.html
