REPORT: Wealdstone 2-0 MK Dons

Wealdstone put in an impressive showing to defeat League One’s MK Dons by two goals at The Vale on Saturday.

Gary Waddock’s side took the lead in the first half through Micah Obiero before making it two in the second half with Trialist B capitalising on a penalty box scramble.

As has often been the case during pre-season, MK Dons did not play with numbers on their backs, so identifying players for this match report was not always straightforward.

The Dons had the first chance of the game from a free kick just outside the box in the 4th minute. The resulting effort was close enough to worry Baptiste but curled just wide of the far post.

The Stones responded positively, eventually winning a corner kick.  Mason Barrett rose the highest to meet it, his header going just over the bar.

Wealdstone were looking the more likely to score, but the pace of MK Dons on the break was always a threat. Dante Baptiste had to stand tall to make a good save after a Dons attacker got in behind The Stones defence.

The hosts continued to put pressure on the MK Dons goal and had a flurry of chances in the 23rd minute. Dylan Kadji first set up Micah Obiero with a clever back heel whose effort was saved before Jack Wells-Morrison also had a shot saved when trying to convert the rebound.

The best chance for the visitors in the first half fell to former Stone, Charlier Waller, in the 29th minute.  MK Dons kept the ball alive after not quite executing a training ground routine from a free kick.  A cross was eventually delivered and knocked down to Waller who couldn’t keep his volley down from close range.

It was Wealdstone who broke the deadlock in the 35th minute. The MK Dons keeper seemed to misjudge the flight of a long ball, coming out of his box and failing to intercept it. Micah Obiero was on hand to roll the ball into an empty net.

This seemed to give The Stones confidence, who ended the first half well on top, moving the ball around quickly and dominating possession as they took their lead into the break.

HALF-TIME: Wealdstone 1-0 MK Dons

The second half saw Wealdstone make several changes, firstly at half-time before the rest of the team was replaced in the 65th minute as Gary Waddock gave several trialists another chance to impress.

Consequently, there was a lot less goalmouth action than in the first half as the game became more of a battle in midfield, perhaps most epitomised when Charlie Waller flew into a crunching on Dylan Kadji and managed to escape without a booking.

The visitors did come close to equalising in the 56th minute, putting an inviting ball into the box that just missed the heads of their attackers trying to get on the end of it.

Wealdstone eventually doubled their lead in the 70th minute.  Initially hitting the post after a corner, leading to a goalmouth scramble before the ball fell to Trialist B who slotted the ball into the back of the net.

This would be the last significant action of the game as the Stones saw out the win comfortably despite ending the game with ten men after an injured trialist had to withdraw with ten minutes to run on the clock. 

A confidence-building performance from The Stones who have another quick turnaround before facing Wimbledon at The Vale on Tuesday evening.

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FULL-TIME: Wealdstone 2-0 MK Dons