FA Cup: MK Dons 3-1 Oldham Athletic

MK Dons booked themselves into the FA Cup third round with a routine 3-1 win over Oldham Athletic.

Joe Tomlinson and a cracker from Liam Kelly put Dons in control before Luke Hannant pulled one back from the penalty spot with 14 minutes to go, before substitute Nathaniel Mendez-Laing sent Dons into the third round draw for the first time in five years.

Paul Warne made four changes to the side to face the Latics as several regulars were given a break from the action, including skipper Alex Gilbey and wing-back Aaron Nemane. Nathaniel Mendez-Laing and Marvin Ekpiteta also dropped to the bench.

It meant a first start since August for Gethin Jones, and since September for Aaron Collins, with Will Collar and Laurence Maguire returning to the side.

The sides met on the opening day of the season at Stadium MK and played out an uneventful 0-0 draw and for much of the first-half, it looked as though a repeat would be on the cards.

Neither side looked capable of forcing much of an issue, though Collins proved a handful as he dropped deep and pulled to the flanks to stretch the Oldham defence, without really troubling keeper Matthew Hudson.

Dons steadily grew into the game, and started to look the better of the two as the half wore on. Collar was sent sprawling in the box but the referee was unmoved, while Collins came close but saw his effort just wide.

Three minutes before the break though, Joe Tomlinson would fire in his second FA Cup goal of the season, getting on the end of a cross from the left-hand side, poking it over Hudson to give Dons the lead at the interval.

The second-half was a much more entertaining affair though, and saw Dons cruise into the third round. From the off they looked more likely to add to their score, with Collar twice testing Hudson before a terrific move involving the former Stockport man, Collins and Kelly teeing up Callum Paterson but the Scot somehow saw his shot come off the post.

Dons would get their reward three minutes before the hour though when Kelly lashed in an unstoppable volley from the edge of the box to double Dons’ advantage and seemingly put them on smooth course for the third round.

It would not be that comfortable though, with Latics substitute Michael Fondop proving a real handful for Laurence Maguire, hauled down by the Dons defender for a penalty which Luke Hannant converted with 14 minutes to go.

But much like a week prior against Fleetwood Town, the visitors provided a lot of bluster without much end product, and it was in fact Dons who would score again to put the tie to bed in stoppage time.

Mendez-Laing, who came off the bench, broke free of the offside trap to draw out Hudson 35 yards from goal, rounding the keeper before slotting home from the edge of the box.

Referee: Zac Kennard-Kettle

Attendance: 3,065 (756)

MK Dons: MacGillivray, Maguire (Mellish 78), Offord, Sanders (Ekpiteta 46), Tomlinson, Jones (Nemane 60), Kelly, Thompson-Sommers, Collar, Collins (Gilbey 60), Paterson (Mendez-Laing 60)

Subs not used: Trueman, Waller, Burke, Tripp

Oldham Athletic: Hudson, Pett (Payne 61), Daniels, Monthe, Woods, Stevens (Hannant 61), Drummond (Quigley 61), Caprice, Robson, Mellon (Fondop 71), Simeu (Sutton 61)

Subs not used: Donaghy, Ogle, Charsley, Morris

Booked: Robson, Maguire, Fondop, Mellish