​Sun, Graft, and a Late Equaliser


Back at Boundary Park in the sunshine for a replay of the very first game of the season — MK Dons, who we drew 0-0 with back in August. Fewer roundabouts to navigate today though, so we’re already winning on that front 😄

The Opposition

This isn’t just any MK Dons side mind — these are second in the league. So whatever happened in that first game, this was always going to be a proper test.

Scrappy First Half

And a test it was. Scrappy, stop-start, with MK Dons’ goalkeeper doing his absolute level best to time waste every single goal kick into next week. Infuriating stuff.

We had decent possession but just couldn’t do anything with it. And then they broke — first real goal attempt and it’s past Hudson and into the net. 0-1. Boundary Park went quiet for a bit.

Half time. Not what we wanted. Let’s see what Micky can do.

Second Half — Same Story, Different Half

More possession in the second half but the passes just weren’t finding the boys in blue. At one point Woods unleashed an overhead kick that found the crowd rather than a teammate. We’ve all been there, son 😅

Didn’t love Drummond on the wing today if I’m honest — something about having him, Fondop and Kavanagh all on at the same time just didn’t click for me. Micky clearly felt something similar and brought Hawkes and Garner on for Taylor and Kavanagh. This needed a battler and Garner is exactly that.

Still though, balls being played into spaces where nobody in blue and white was. Frustrating viewing.

The Shift in Momentum

Gradually — gradually — it started to turn. More positive passes. More forward intent. Could we get the break we needed?

Hawkes had a sweet volley that curled towards the bottom corner — from the Jimmy Frizzell Stand it looked like it had gone in. It hadn’t. Hearts in mouths.

But then — another break forward, another cross from Hawkes, and Fondop gets his head on it and finds the back of the net. 1-1. His 3rd goal in 4 games. Five minutes of normal time left. Get in! 💙

🎶 Fondop again, olé olé 🎶

Drummond and Pett came off after the goal, Hammond and Payne seeing it out to the final whistle.

A Point is a Point

It nudges us down to 9th but we’ve still got that game in hand on the teams above us. Couldn’t really find our flow today, but we battled, we dug in, and we got something out of it against the second-placed side in the league.

In the grand scheme of things? We’ll take it.

The playoff dream is still very much alive. 💙

💙🔵⚪️ #OAFC

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