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RYAN FLAIR

AFC Wimbledon 0 MK Dons 2: On-loan Southampton star Ryan Seager and Gboly Ariyibi continue their hot goal streak as MK sink club formed to replace them

Robbie Neilson’s Dons completed a revenge mission on their second return to the club’s old manor

ROBBIE Neilson’s MK Dons completed a revenge mission on their second return to the club’s old manor -  against the outfit formed to replace them in South London.

Ryan Seager, on loan from Southampton, and Gboly Ariyibi each made it two in two to send MK  into the top half of League One.

 MK Dons mob Ryan Seager after his early opener at AFC Wimbledon
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MK Dons mob Ryan Seager after his early opener at AFC WimbledonCredit: Reuters
 Lyle Taylor looks dejected after missing a penalty for AFC Wimbledon
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Lyle Taylor looks dejected after missing a penalty for AFC WimbledonCredit: Reuters

Defeat against a team their fans dub ‘Franchis’ left AFC Wimbledon slipping to 16th.

The grudge match was set-up with the cover of the programme omitting the name of the opposition and the electronic scoreboard limiting the visitors name to ‘MK’.

It was felt around Kingsmeadow that the Dons nickname belonged to AFC Wimbledon alone, that MK lost the right to the moniker by moving out of the area to Buckinghamshire 15 years ago.

That switch prompted the formation of AFC to keep a local team, even if it was non-league at first.

Security was increased. MK’s team coach arrived at an entrance away supporters. And visiting fans were all ordered to make the journey on official supporters’ club coaches.

It was reported the Buckinghamshire outfit’s chairman Peter Winkelman and other club officials would sit with the away fans, just as they did on their only previous visit.

 Ryan Seager is on hand in the seventh minute to set up a fine win for MK Dons
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Ryan Seager is on hand in the seventh minute to set up a fine win for MK DonsCredit: Rex Features

All passed peacefully off the pitch then, but the visitors were left with a bloody nose on it when Neal Ardley’s side won 2-0 in March, with one of the goalscorers Lyle Taylor lining up again.

Ardley wanted to harness the intense cauldron of an atmosphere positively. His players to be buoyed  by the passion of the home fans.

He had let the reins off his side in recent weeks –to allow them to play a more intense game - with dividends after a shaky start to the season. A solid home draw against Gillingham was followed by an impressive victory away to former Premier League champions Blackburn Rovers last time out.

But MK were in decent form themselves – looking for a third win on the trot.

Sensibly the powers that be put  Prem ref Mike Jones to keep control.

MK were booed emerging from the dressing room as their travelling support jumped up and down opposite.

And the chant ‘you Franchise b**stards you know who you’ are’ to  MK  in reference to their visitors’ upping sticks  without due consideration for their core support.

And seven minutes in those supporters each gained an extra spring as Seager put Neilson’s team ahead.

Osman Sow flew down the left and  guided a cross to the near-post for unmarked Seager, who netted in a 3-2 win over Rochdale last week, to slot home from close range.

Ardley’s boys, cheered to the rafters by their support taking time off from haranguing the opposition, battled back.

Andy Bircham, the former Spurs winger,  tried to dribble and trick his way down the left supported by classy youth product Anthony Hartigan.

But 17-year-old Hartigan’s inexperience showed when he tripped Sow and earned a yellow.

Kwesi Appiah, who hit the winner at Ewood Park, was denied a shooting opportunity  by a  last-ditch tackle.

But it went from bad to worse for Wimbledon when MK doubled their advantage after 26 minutes.

The hosts failed to clear their lines as the ball bobbled in their penalty area and  Gboly Ariyibi thumped  the  loose ball home, adding to his goal against Rochdale.

Ardley threw on Cody McDonald in place of the injured Appiah to revive home fortunes. And the striker missed a cross by a whisker from close in moments later.

But MK remained cool, calm and collected after dampening their hosts’ spirits.

Yet unmarked defender Deji Oshilaja should have reduced the deficit two minutes before the interval.

He crept around the back of the wall to head a Dean Parrett free-kick against the bar with the goal at his mercy.

Taylor had a drilled drive tipped over by stopper Lee Nicholls just after the re-start. An flashed another effort over.

But he squandered his best opportunity from the spot after 63 minutes.

Scott Golbourne was adjudged to have handled and Taylor immediately grabbed the ball. But Nicholls stretched to save his low kick to the stopper’s right.

Yet MK were denied a third when Wimbledon goalkeeper George Long pulled off a superb saave from a close-range header from sub Robbie Muirhead.

It seemed as if the hosts had shot their bolt as the awy support celebrated at an increasingly subdued Kingsmeadow.



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