By Alfie Marlborough
The Dons were unable to make it three wins from three against an out of form Peterborough United who ran out 2-0 winners on Thursday evening.
It was a cagey beginning for both sides in the opening minutes. Neither side had any real chances with both teams looking to get control of the game.
Just after the Quarter Hour mark, Borough had their first real chance of the game. The Dons were passing well but Zak Jules was robbed in the middle of the park and drove forward with exceptional pace. Jules was spared his blushes thanks to Jack Tucker who blocked the wingers low cross and put behind for a corner.
Shortly after, Louie Barry had an opportunity to get himself the opener of the game but his effort towards goal was blocked. Barry regained possession but his ball in to Grigg ran through to the keeper.
Following a brief flurry of pressure from Peterborough, the Dons look to hit them on the break down the right hand side. Nathan Holland sprinted away after being on the end of the a clearance before being hauled down by Harrison Burrows who rightfully went into the book.
The Posh gained the lead just five minutes before the interval through Joe Ward. Despite Dons appeals for a foul further up the pitch but like many other times through the evening, David Rock opted against giving the free-kick despite it being a fairly clear one. Poku received the ball just outside of the D and passed the ball out wide to Joe Ward who was free. Ward carried on his run with the ball for a few seconds before releasing his shot across goal and into the bottom corner to give the hosts the lead.
Jamie Cumming was forced into a diving l save just moments after the goal. Poku, who continued to look a real threat for the Posh cut in on his favoured left foot before unleashing an effort towards goal which was Comfortably met by Cumming in goal.
HALF-TIME: PET 1-0 MKD
Straight away after the break, the Dons brought the ball forward through Tennai Watson who carried on driving forward. The defender decided to take on the shot himself but it was straight down the throat of Blackmore in goal for Borough.
The hosts doubled their lead just three minutes after the break through Ricky-Jade Jones. Jack Taylor began sprinting goal wards and could do so with the lack of Dons players trying to win the ball back. Jones was in space and Taylor’s pass out wide reached him before slotting past Cumming for goal number two.
After an hour of play, Dons’ looked to the bench to try and salvage something from the game, making a triple change bringing on former Posh striker Mo Eisa, Bradley Johnson and Henry Lawrence entered the game looking to try and boost the Dons’ chances.
Two minutes had passed and the Posh had a penalty. Johnson Clarke-Harris was hauled down by Zak Jules inside the area leaving referee David Rock no choice but to point to the spot. Clarke-Harris stepped up to take but Jamie Cumming dived to his left and saved well – giving Dons a lifeline to get back into the game.
Despite Dons bringing the ball forward a lot more in the final twenty minutes, they never looked likely to score. The attackers looked tired but the Borough defence continued to stay strong and didn’t allow anything until additional time when Daniel Harvie saw his powerful shot from a tight angle parried away by Blackmore who was on course to win his first career clean sheet.
FULL-TIME: PET 2-0 MKD
Another poor performance for the Dons who end the year sitting 22nd in League One. Just one more game against the League Leaders, Plymouth on New Years Day until Jackson and his staff will have two weeks to try and improve a very off-colour Dons team.
