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MK Dons 4 Liverpool Under-18s 2
Friendly
MK Dons ran out 4-2 winners in a friendly against Liverpool Under-18s at stadiummk on Saturday afternoon.
Sam Baldock, Daniel Powell (2) and Peter Leven were all on target in a worthwhile run out for Karl Robinson’s men.
Dons, without a game due to the postponement of their League One fixture with Southampton, had a good turn out from supporters to watch what was effectively a training exercise.
Robinson gave Stuart Searle the chance to get some time under his belt in goal, while Mathias Kouo-Doumbe, who has missed the first two games through suspension, partnered Tom Flanagan in defence.
Jabo Ibehre and Sam Baldock worked on their partnership up front, and Peter Leven was the experienced head in midfield alongside youngster George Baldock.
Fringe players Adam Chicksen and Daniel Powell were also given the opportunity to impress with the remainder of the side made up of Mike Dove’s academy team.
In the early phases Liverpool’s Toni Silva enjoyed too much space down the right and looked a real threat resulting in Chicksen switching to left-back to keep tabs on the winger, allowing Harry Milton to shuffle into midfield.
There were rare glimpse of quality in the first-half, although Krisztian Adorjan’s 40-yard free-kick was not one of them as his blasted strike was roundly greeted by cheers from Dons fans as it reached Row Z.
But Liverpool, athletic enough to out muscle and still able to produce neat touches, opened the scoring in the 24th minute when the Dons failed to deal with Silva’s corner, so Matthew Regan was able to head on to the bar and the ball bounced over.
Dons always looked able to pull a goal back especially with Leven’s free-kicks calling on goalkeeper Jamie Stephens on several occasions.
Robinson’s side were back on level terms five minutes before the break thanks to the sharp Sam Baldock pouncing on a corner which failed to be cleared by the young Liverpool defence.
Moments later Dons were denied a second by a brilliant stop from Stephens. The former-Swindon Town ‘keeper produced a fine tip over to deny an athletic attempt from Ibehre.
It took Liverpool ten minutes in to the second half to regain their lead.
The combination of Michael Ngoo and Adorjan dissected the Dons’ back line before Silva completed the move by sliding the ball beyond Searle.
The Dons introduced Charlie Collins, Aaron King and son of former Wimbledown legend Dave Beasant, Nick Beasant, to get some match action.
Powell, having struck the post shortly after Liverpool’s second, clawed the scores level when he made his way through the right side of the opposition, and, with a little help from Matthew McGiveron found the back of the net.
Dons took the lead for the first time in the game when King was bundled down in the box, and Leven duly converted into the bottom corner.
And the Dons completed their victory five minutes from time when Powell latched on to a neat through ball from midfield before producing a great finish as Stephens conceded a fourth goal.
MK DONS: Searle, Williams, Kouo-Doumbe, Flanagan, Milton, Powell, G Baldock, Leven, Chicksen, Ibehre, S Baldock.
Subs: Collins, King, Beasant
Goals: Sam Baldock 41, Powell 66, 85, Leven (pen) 78
LIVERPOOL U18S: Stephens, Poor, Smith, Sama, Regan, Sama, Regan, Coady (c), Serling, Roddan, Ngoo, Adorjan, Silva.
Goals: Reegan 24, Silva 55
Attendance: 757
