REPORT: Wanderers v MK Dons

Goal-hungry Wanderers rattled in another four as a fifth successive victory lifted them up to third place in the League One table.

After the high of putting five past Peterborough in the Whites’ 5000th league game, Ian Evatt’s men made sure there would be no hangover with another clinical performance in which the defenders took centre stage.

Central defenders Ricardo Almeida Santos, Luke Mbete and Eoin Toal all got on the scoresheet.

Wing-back Gethin Jones joined them with the third goal before half-time.

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And after coming off the bench to fill the opposite wing-back role, Randell Williams got in on the act to add the fifth with virtually the last kick of the game to open his Wanderers’ account and guarantee the Whites' biggest win of the campaign at the University of Bolton Stadium.

With the fives keeping on coming, the rampant Whites also made it five successive home wins in all competitions to maintain their momentum as one of the form teams of the division at a pivotal stage of the season.

Wanderers brought Victor Adeboyejo back into the starting line-up as the only change to the side that had started Saturday’s history-marking romp.

But it was the defenders who got the ball rolling as Wanderers made the perfect start.

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After waiting 118 games to score his first goals for the club Santos quickly added to his tally with a third goal in two games as he headed home a Declan John corner after juist six minutes.

And a quarter of an hour later, Mbete followed suit with an almost identical goal as he nodded home the first goal of his senior career.

The ultra-confident Whites had looked a threat every time they went forward with the teenage Shola Shoretire again belying his tender years with a masterful display.

The Dons were also a danger at times with their pace in attack a useful weapon and at 1-0 it needed a fine block from James Trafford to deny Mo Eisa an equaliser.

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But once the Whites had doubled their lead the outcome was never in doubt and after Adeboyejo had missed a chance from a Jones’ cross, Jones helped himself as he met Kyle Dempsey’s pull-back with the third goal driven in via a deflection off Daniel Harvie with less than 25 minutes on the clock.

John then curled a free-kick just inches wide of the top corner as Wanderers went close to a fourth before the break.

With that kind of cushion there was no need for any heroics from the Whites as the visitors, who had won their previous two away games in their battle to get out of relegation trouble, continued to look the part going forward.

But Wanderers were still able to add to their lead after Jamie Cumming was finally beaten.

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The Dons keeper made three top-class saves wrapped around a chance for Jonathan Leko at the other end to keep out efforts from Toal, Adeboyejo and Dion Charles before the pressure finally told.

Cumming’s save from a diving Charles’ header was a fantastic effort but the Dons couldn’t defend the corner that followed as the ball was allowed to drop for Toal to thump home his third goal of the season.

Evatt then took the opportunity to rest some legs and give game time to others from the bench, Shoretire leaving to a standing ovation.

Among the changes one things stayed the same as Trafford duly collected a ninth successive home clean sheet to further extend the club record.

And to put the cap on another joyous night, Williams showed neat feet in the Dons’ box in the final minute of added time to slot home the fifth goal as Wanderers finished with a flourish and gave their goal difference a further timely boost.

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Wanderers: Trafford; Toal, Almeida Santos, Mbete; Jones (Isgrove 78), Morley, Dempsey (Sheehan 72), John (R Williams 78); Shoretire (Kachunga 78); Charles (Lee 72), Adeboyejo. Substitutes: Dixon, Thomason.

Booked: None

MK Dons: Cumming; Lawrence, Tucker, Jules, Harvie; McEachran (Johnson 78), Maghoma (Smith 78); Leko, Devoy (Holland 86), Kaikai (Watson, HT); Eisa (Grigg 68). Substitutes: Ravizzoli, Smith, Holland, Burns.

Booked: None

Referee: Marc Edwards

Attendance: 16,634 (MK Dons 177)

Read Time: 4 mins