Dons strike late to deny Terras
By Nigel Biddlecombe

Tuesday 25th July 2006

A LATE goal condemned Terras to defeat in an uninspiring friendly against League Two MK Dons at the Wessex Stadium last night.

Weymouth started brightly when Richard Logan forced Drissa Diallo to head clear following good work by Chukki Eribenne and Lee Elam.

The Dons hit back immediately and Tony James did well to halt Alex Tapp's run into the penalty box. MK's route one football caused the Terras problems and in the 12th minute Adebol Bankola's long kick was half cleared by Roy O'Brien.
However Izale Mcleod out jumped James to head on to Gary Smith who
shot wide.

O'Brien had a chance to test Bankola in the 13th minute when Nick Crittenden's corner found him on the edge of the area, but the Terras man missed his kick.

Minutes later good work by Crittenden and Simon Downer put Logan through. The striker returned the ball to Crittenden whose cross fell to Ashley Vickers 30 yards out, but his effort flew past the target.

JP McGovern was at the heart of much of Milton Keynes's attacking play and he found the space to put, first Smith and then Mcleod through, but Aaron Lee-Barrett was on hand to keep the scores level on both occasions.

As the first half ended the Terras were putting their visitors under pressure by winning a series of corners and in the 34th minute Logan's effort was just too high.

Weymouth took the lead in the 38th minute when Elam took a quick throw to Ben Smith. The midfield man found Logan on the left and the ex-Peterborough star made good ground before firing in a low cross.

Defender Craig Morgan slid in, but his attempted clearance was misdirected and flew into the net. Simon Weatherstone might have added number two in the 42nd minute, but his effort screwed just wide.

Dons then levelled in the 52nd minute when Paul Mitchell found room on the left to cross for Clive Platt. Lee-Barratt was only able to parry Platt's shot and Smith ran in to drive home.

There were few chances at either end as the game began to peter out. A Crittenden cross forced Diallo to head clear. Logan headed just wide and Lee-Barratt saved from Scott Taylor.

Elam tried hard to inspire the Terras with his runs down the flank. His pass to Wayne Purser saw the home striker turn brilliantly, but Gareth Edds made a last-ditch tackle to save the visitors.

The Dons eventually snatched a winner two minutes from time when McGovern found Taylor. The striker fed Aaron Wilbraham whose shot beat a static Lee-Barrett.