Dons' miserable trophy campaign ends with Swindon thumping

An Aaron Drinan hat-trick ensured MK Dons’ miserable Vertu Trophy campaign came to a damp end with a 4-0 home defeat to Swindon Town on Tuesday night.

The striker completed his trio after captain Ollie Clarke fired the Robins ahead after 11 minutes, setting the tone for the rest of the evening at Stadium MK.

Knowing they needed to win by two clear goals, the Robins made light work of Paul Warne’s much-changed side, as they cruised into the next round.

Connal Trueman was the only player to remain in place from Saturday’s 2-2 draw with Barnet as Paul Warne made ten changes to his side for the dead-rubber affair with Swindon Town. Laurence Maguire was the only notable return from injury, having missed the last four matches through injury. There was also a full debut handed to Jack Burke, playing alongside Maguire and experienced Nathan Thompson in the centre of the defence.

Swindon came into the game knowing they needed to win by two clear goals to proceed further in the competition, and they made it look easy in a comprehensive first-half performance which saw them lead by three at the interval.

The first came after 11 minutes when Dons were carved open by Jamie Knight-Lebel and the dangerous Aaron Drinan, eventually finding captain Ollie Clarke to rattle through Trueman for the opener.

Their second came 21 minutes later when Callum Tripp’s poor challenge on Finley Munroe left referee Elliott Swallow no choice but to point to the spot, with Drinan converting from 12 yards.

Drinan then added his second and Swindon’s third 38 minutes with ease, left unmarked at the near post to tap in Knight-Lebel’s corner.

It could have been worse but somehow Princewill Ehibhatiomhan managed to miss a sitter from ten yards on the stroke of half-time, firing at Trueman to tip over when either side of him would have made it four.

Joe Tomlinson was brought off at half-time to keep him in shape for Saturday’s game against Salford City, while Maguire’s return after four games out ended on the hour-mark as he too was saved for the remainder, but Dons’ on-field exploits had little chance of improving as the rain poured down in the second-half.

Kept at arm’s length by Swindon, Chase Medwynter forced a save from keeper Lewis Ward who got low to his left-hand post to deny the striker his first goal, but at the other end, Drinan would flick home his third with 19 minutes remaining.

Referee: Elliott Swallow

Attendance: 1,036 (247)

MK Dons: Trueman, Thompson (Domi 77), Burke, Maguire (Guzynski 61), Tomlinson (Mellish 46), Tripp, Thompson-Sommers, Crowley, Troso, Leko, Medwynter

Subs not used: Finch, Silver, Singh-Hurditt, Osborne

Swindon Town: Ward, Ball (Oldaker 61 (Wright 89)), Clarke, Wilson-Brown (Delaney 18), Tafazolli (Mabete 46), Kilkenny (Gonzalez-Birchall 61), Princewill, Knight-Lebel, Drinan, Munroe, Bodin

Subs not used: Ripley, Glatzel

Booked: Clarke, Bodin, Medwynter