Dons comfortable in Corby

A Ben Reeves brace and a Sam Nombe header saw MK Dons comfortably past Corby on Tuesday night, winning 3-1 at Steel Park.
Ben Reeves was on the score sheet at Steel Park. PNL-160719-210819002Ben Reeves was on the score sheet at Steel Park. PNL-160719-210819002
Ben Reeves was on the score sheet at Steel Park. PNL-160719-210819002

After a fairly nondescript first period, Reeves scored from the penalty spot after 75 seconds of the second half, then doubling the lead three minutes later. Andre Johnson then converted a penalty for Corby before Sam Nombe put the game to bed with 12 minutes to go.

Such is the case in pre-season friendlies, the gulf in class was clear for all to see as Dons played keep-ball for the majority of both halves, leaving keeper Charlie Burns a spectator for the most part.

The first half distinctly lacked in the way of chances though. Tom Hitchcock was well marshalled by Brad-Lee Gascoigne and O’Neill Odofin and though Reeves had the ball in the net midway through the first half, he was well offside.

Samir Carruthers in action against Corby. PNL-160719-210730002Samir Carruthers in action against Corby. PNL-160719-210730002
Samir Carruthers in action against Corby. PNL-160719-210730002

What the first half lacked was made up for in the opening nine minutes of the second half. There was only 45 seconds on the clock before half-time substitute Herbe Buka brought down Reeves in the area to allow the Northern Ireland international to rifle Dons into the lead.

And barely four minutes later, Reeves swept home his second of the night, converting Giorgio Rasulo’s cross from six yards.

Corby were offered a way back into the game nine minutes after the restart when Joe Walsh was adjudged to have handled in the box, allowing Andre Johnson to rattle home the evening’s second spot kick to make it 2-1.

Robinson rang the changes with 19 minutes to go, and two substitutes combined to double Dons’ advantage on 78 minutes. Brandon Thomas-Asante had only been on the field a matter of seconds before he beat the offside trap, only to see his shot saved by Ollie Sutton. The rebound though fell kindly for Nombe who headed in to the unguarded net.

MK Dons: Burns, Lewington (Tilney 71), Walsh (Downing 71), Jackson, Williams (Baldock 71), Upson (Powell 71), Carruthers (Kasumu 81), Rasulo, Furlong (Thomas-Asante 77), Reeves (Nombe 71), Hitchcock