Rushden & Diamonds 0 MK Dons 5

The Diamonds hosted League One MK Dons in their third home pre-season friendly of the 2010-11 campaign with the game ending in a convincing victory for the visitors, with the Diamonds day made worse by an injury to Shane Huke, who was stretchered from the field with ligament damage, and a red card for Ryan Charles after he had only been on the field for six minutes.

The Dons scored twice in the first half, with Jermaine Easter having a simple tap-in following a scramble in the Diamonds area after 14 minutes. After 27 minutes Luke Chadwick slotted home from an unmarked position 10 yards out after Easter had burst through a gap between Alan Power and Jamie Stuart and cross the ball to him. Three further Dons goals followed in the second half from Lewis Guy (55), Sam Baldock (56), and Peter Leven (74). Ryan Charles was shown a red card after a challenge on Leven after 63 minutes, just six minutes after he had replaced Sam Smith.

Justin Edinburgh was back in charge of the team after missing the Southend game due to illness, and he brought back Alan Power, Craig Farrell and Jamie Day into the starting line-up. The illness at the club also meant that Kurt Robinson was unavailable for the game, so Youth Team defender George Artemi was called up to the bench.

The Diamonds started with a back four of Shane Huke and Jamie Day at full back with Osano and Stuart in front of Dale Roberts. The midfield trio were Alan Power, Matt Johnson and Max Porter, with Lee Tomlin, Craig Farrell and Sam Smith up front. After Huke's injury Max Porter dropped back to right-back with Joe Keehan taking his place in midfield.

MK Dons fielded a strong team that included many of the players from their League One campaign last season, with Jermaine Easter and Sam Baldock up front in the first half. Striker Aaron Wilbraham was given a midfield role at the start of the game.

The game started quite slowly, and it initially looked as if the Diamonds defence were going to deny their opponents the sort of chances that Southend United had created in the early stages of the game the previous Wednesday.

However, from what was their first meaningful attack the Dons took the lead after 14 minutes, when Sam Baldock fielded a pass from Gleeson well inside the area, and although the striker was tackled, the ball fell to Jermaine Easter who had a simple task to tap the ball home.

The Diamonds attacking efforts were limited to long shots from Lee Tomlin that gave more work to the ball-boys in the empty Airwair stand than keeper Searle, but again the Diamonds looked to have their defensive structure sorted before they were split open by a run from Jermaine Easter after 27 minutes, as he forced his way between Jamie Stuart and Alan Power towards the right corner of the penalty area and then had plenty of time to square the ball to Luke Chadwick who lashed the ball home from close range.

The game was being played in a surprisingly competitive way, and Steven Gleeson was shown a yellow card for a needless push on Jamie Stuart after the ball had gone out for a goal kick, and then a strong challenge from Baldock resulted in Shane Huke being stretchered from the field with ligament damage. Max Porter moved to right back, with Joe Keehan joining the action in midfield.

Half-Time: Rushden & Diamonds 0 MK Dons 2

Shortly after the break the visitors took off striker Jermaine Easter, meaning that Aaron Wilbraham could be pushed forwards into his more familiar striking role, and immediately he started causing the Diamonds defence further problems.

Five minutes into the half Dale Roberts produced the best of several good saves he made during the game, pushing away a powerful shot from Baldock, with Max Porter tidying up to prevent further danger.

Baldock was then lucky to escape sanction from the referee with a late challenge on Jamie Stuart near the touchline, and then Dons captain Lewington failed to persuade Referee Scott to award a penalty with a blatant dive when accepting a pass from Chadwick.

However, a quickly taken free kick on the right saw the Dons get their third as the Diamonds defence were slow to organise their marking, and a ball from Lewington found Lewis Guy who was deemed onside as he prodded home the third goal.

Only a minute later the game was over as a contest when Wilbraham rose to flick on a long ball through the centre for Sam Baldock to net the fourth Dons goal.

The Diamonds immediately brought on Ryan Charles for Sam Smith, but after only six minutes on the field he was shown a red card for a late challenge on Peter Leven. Leven was lucky to not receive a similar punishment given his reaction involved contact with Charles' head.

Ten-man Diamonds continued to have an occasional attack, but apart from long range shots from Tomlin that did not match the quality of his running, the only play that got the home crowd on their feet was a good run from defence by Curtis Osano and a pass that looked to have put Craig Farrell clear, but the striker was adjudged offside.

The Dons fifth goal came when the impressive Wilbraham picked out a run of Peter Leven into the box, and he was able to slip the ball between Dale Roberts' legs, although the Diamonds keeper was one of the few in blue and white that took much credit from their afternoon's work. Roberts made a fine save from a Wilbraham chip shortly afterwards as the Diamonds fought to keep the scoreline down to 0-5.

There was still time for Alan Power to pick up a yellow card for a poor challenge on Mark Carrington before referee Scott brought the game to a close.

Full-Time: Rushden & Diamonds 0 MK Dons 5

Teams

Rushden & Diamonds: Dale Roberts, Shane Huke (Joe Keehan 33), Jamie Day, Alan Power, Jamie Stuart (Capt), Curtis Osano, Matt Johnson, Sam Smith (Ryan Charles 57), Craig Farrell, Lee Tomlin, Max Porter

Subs Not Used: Joe Day, George Artemi, Max York, Nabil Shariff

MK Dons: Stuart Searle, Luke Howell, Dean Lewington (Capt), Sean O'Hanlon, Steven Gleeson, Jermaine Easter, Aaron Wilbraham, Sam Baldock, Lewis Guy, Danny Woodwards, Luke Chadwick

Subs: Mark Carrington (for Gleeson HT), Peter Leven (for Easter 49), Jabo Ibhere (for Baldock 57), Pelé (for Lewington 57), Daniel Powell (for Chadwick 64), Tom Flanaghan (for Woodwards 82)

Subs Not Used: Angelo Balanta, Adam Chicksen

Goals: Easter (14mins, 0-1), Chadwick (27, 0-2), Guy (55, 0-3), Baldock (56, 0-4), Leven (74, 0-5)

Yellow Cards: Steven Gleeson, Alan Power

Red Card: Ryan Charles

Attendance: 747

Referee John Scott