Post by Macmoish on Jul 20, 2010 21:29:05 GMT
Balanta scored again for MK Dons vs Kettering...
Paul Furlong now at Kettering as Player Coach
MK Dons Official Site
KETTERING TOWN 1 MK DONS 4
Tue 20 Jul 2010
MK Dons produced their most accomplished performance of pre-season so far as they overpowered Kettering Town at Rockingham Road.
Playing their slickest football of the summer's three friendlies, Karl Robinson's side were only pegged back briefly when Angelo Balanta's opener was cancelled out by a fine James Dance effort.
But second-half strikes from Sam Baldock, Stephen Gleeson and Jermaine Easter gave the Dons their third consecutive win in the build-up to the 2010/11 campaign, in what was certainly their strongest test to date.
Match minutes gained in the last week are certainly beginning to show for Robinson's side, with Dietmar Hamann and Sean O'Hanlon the only players starting their first game of pre-season.
They were quickly into their stride, working neat passing patterns around the Poppies, happy to pass the ball in even the most congested defensive areas.
Energised by the tempo set by Hamann and the busy Peter Leven in midfield, the Dons moved the ball quickly and precisely in the first half despite the noticeably lengthy grass threatening to hold things up. Chances would naturally follow.
Angelo Balanta scores; Kettering Town v MK Dons
Angelo Balanta opens the scoring on 24 minutes.
Balanta was only denied by former Dons full-back Sol Davis on the line after being set up by the industrious Baldock on 11 minutes, but the on-loan QPR winger would not be kept at bay long.
Easter started the move with a crunching challenge on Davis before feeding Chadwick down the right and his far post cross was calmly collected and dispatched by the Columbian.
Kettering had shown some menace, particularly utilising the height of veteran striker Paul Furlong. But few could have foreseen the stunning equaliser produced by Dance on 27 minutes.
Racing onto Furlong's flick towards the left corner of the box, Dance pirouetted back onto his right foot before curling majestically over David Martin and into the top-right corner.
Luke Chadwick; Kettering Town v MK Dons
Luke Chadwick surges through the Kettering midfield.
Dons continued to dominate possession in the build-up to the break, but had only a sliced Balanta effort to show for it after wonderful exchanges with Chadwick and Leven.
But the lead would be re-established shortly after half-time as Balanta again charged into the box down the left, allowing Chadwick to set up Baldock for a simple finish from close-range.
Changes for both sides seemed to affect the home side more than the visitors and the Dons set about turning the screw with some splendid interchanges.
Sean OHanlon; Kettering Town v MK Dons
Sean O'Hanlon steps away from Paul Furlong.
As well as the Dons' slick passing, pressure high up the pitch looks to be another Robinson trait-in-the-making and when Balanta robbed his marker to send Easter away down the left, only the firm stance of Abbey denied the Welshman.
Having again proven himself totally adept at right-back, Gleeson made the switch to midfield halfway through the second period and gave a reminder of his outstanding technical prowess with a stunning third on 73 minutes. Stepping sweetly inside 25 yards from goal, he gave Abbey no chance with an immaculately-struck shot into the right-hand corner.
Robinson's men were not finished there, with Easter particularly keen to forage his first goal of pre-season. It duly arrived with the move of the match 12 minutes from time.
Dietmar Hamann; Kettering Town 1 MK Dons 4
Didi Hamann challenges Kettering's Andre Boucard.
Substitute Jabo Ibehre held the ball up strongly before offloading to Chadwick, charging freely across the part before feeding Luke Howell bursting forward from right-back. Easter made a beeline for the penalty spot and Howell didn't disappoint, delivering a pinpoint cross that Easter headed lethally home from 10 yards.
Dons (4-4-2): Martin (Searle 79); Gleeson, O'Hanlon (Trialist 56), Trialist (Doumbe 56), Lewington (c); Chadwick (Chicksen 79), Hamann (Carrington 62), Leven (Guy 69), Balanta (Ibehre 69); Easter (Powell 79), Baldock (Howell 69).
www.mkdons.com/page/NewsDetail/0,,10420~2097416,00.html
Paul Furlong now at Kettering as Player Coach
MK Dons Official Site
KETTERING TOWN 1 MK DONS 4
Tue 20 Jul 2010
MK Dons produced their most accomplished performance of pre-season so far as they overpowered Kettering Town at Rockingham Road.
Playing their slickest football of the summer's three friendlies, Karl Robinson's side were only pegged back briefly when Angelo Balanta's opener was cancelled out by a fine James Dance effort.
But second-half strikes from Sam Baldock, Stephen Gleeson and Jermaine Easter gave the Dons their third consecutive win in the build-up to the 2010/11 campaign, in what was certainly their strongest test to date.
Match minutes gained in the last week are certainly beginning to show for Robinson's side, with Dietmar Hamann and Sean O'Hanlon the only players starting their first game of pre-season.
They were quickly into their stride, working neat passing patterns around the Poppies, happy to pass the ball in even the most congested defensive areas.
Energised by the tempo set by Hamann and the busy Peter Leven in midfield, the Dons moved the ball quickly and precisely in the first half despite the noticeably lengthy grass threatening to hold things up. Chances would naturally follow.
Angelo Balanta scores; Kettering Town v MK Dons
Angelo Balanta opens the scoring on 24 minutes.
Balanta was only denied by former Dons full-back Sol Davis on the line after being set up by the industrious Baldock on 11 minutes, but the on-loan QPR winger would not be kept at bay long.
Easter started the move with a crunching challenge on Davis before feeding Chadwick down the right and his far post cross was calmly collected and dispatched by the Columbian.
Kettering had shown some menace, particularly utilising the height of veteran striker Paul Furlong. But few could have foreseen the stunning equaliser produced by Dance on 27 minutes.
Racing onto Furlong's flick towards the left corner of the box, Dance pirouetted back onto his right foot before curling majestically over David Martin and into the top-right corner.
Luke Chadwick; Kettering Town v MK Dons
Luke Chadwick surges through the Kettering midfield.
Dons continued to dominate possession in the build-up to the break, but had only a sliced Balanta effort to show for it after wonderful exchanges with Chadwick and Leven.
But the lead would be re-established shortly after half-time as Balanta again charged into the box down the left, allowing Chadwick to set up Baldock for a simple finish from close-range.
Changes for both sides seemed to affect the home side more than the visitors and the Dons set about turning the screw with some splendid interchanges.
Sean OHanlon; Kettering Town v MK Dons
Sean O'Hanlon steps away from Paul Furlong.
As well as the Dons' slick passing, pressure high up the pitch looks to be another Robinson trait-in-the-making and when Balanta robbed his marker to send Easter away down the left, only the firm stance of Abbey denied the Welshman.
Having again proven himself totally adept at right-back, Gleeson made the switch to midfield halfway through the second period and gave a reminder of his outstanding technical prowess with a stunning third on 73 minutes. Stepping sweetly inside 25 yards from goal, he gave Abbey no chance with an immaculately-struck shot into the right-hand corner.
Robinson's men were not finished there, with Easter particularly keen to forage his first goal of pre-season. It duly arrived with the move of the match 12 minutes from time.
Dietmar Hamann; Kettering Town 1 MK Dons 4
Didi Hamann challenges Kettering's Andre Boucard.
Substitute Jabo Ibehre held the ball up strongly before offloading to Chadwick, charging freely across the part before feeding Luke Howell bursting forward from right-back. Easter made a beeline for the penalty spot and Howell didn't disappoint, delivering a pinpoint cross that Easter headed lethally home from 10 yards.
Dons (4-4-2): Martin (Searle 79); Gleeson, O'Hanlon (Trialist 56), Trialist (Doumbe 56), Lewington (c); Chadwick (Chicksen 79), Hamann (Carrington 62), Leven (Guy 69), Balanta (Ibehre 69); Easter (Powell 79), Baldock (Howell 69).
www.mkdons.com/page/NewsDetail/0,,10420~2097416,00.html