MK Dons had to settle for a draw after a 1-1 stalemate with Cambridge United at Stadium MK.
Callum Paterson had put the Dons in front late in the first half, but a fine strike by ex-Don Sullay Kaikai brought the visitors back on level terms just after the hour.
A point helps the Dons to a run of one defeat in their past six. They sit in 5th place in League Two, with Paul Warne’s side sat 4 points off Swindon Town in third place. The match did produce concerns for the Dons, however, with Nathaniel Mendez-Laing and Laurence Maguire both taken off in the first half with injuries.
Having conceded late on to lose away at Notts County in midweek, MK Dons were seeking home comforts against Cambridge.
The visitors arrived in decent form themselves, with an run of staying unbeaten in their previous 5 League Two games seeing them climb to being in the position directly behind the Dons at kick-off, albeit smarting after conceding an injury time equaliser at home to Chesterfield.
The opening phase turned out to be a scrappy one, with neither side really able to get fluency in the early stages of the first half.
It was MK Dons who nearly took the lead, however. Cambridge keeper Jake Eastwood charged out of the goal to make a clearance, but the ball was intercepted. The Dons worked it to Alex Gilbey, who had a looping and deflected shot just gathered by Eastwood before it could cross the line.
Cambridge nearly made the most of their reprieve a few moments later. From a Dons corner, the visitors broke at pace and the ball was worked for Ben Knight, who had a shot denied by Craig MacGillivray after the Dons keeper raced out of his box.
MacGillivray then had a more uncomfortable moment, as he dropped Adam Mayor’s cross. The loose ball fell for Cambridge’s Kelland Watts, who saw one shot blocked on the line before he prodded the rebound wide.
The Dons then suffered twin blows as the first half progressed, as both Mendez-Laing and Maguire would be substituted before the half-hour mark with potential hamstring injuries.
Liam Bennett missed the target with a strike for Cambridge, before Kaikai missed the target with an overhead kick.
But after getting through that, the Dons would make it 1-0 in the final minutes of the first half. Liam Kelly intercepted the ball in the middle of the park then released Paterson, who duly ran forward and finished with a strike into the back of the net.
Cambridge nearly equalised in the final stages of the half, but Bennett missed the target from close range after being picked out by Kaikai’s cross.
MK Dons nearly scored a second goal in a similar manner to the first. Aaron Nemane released Paterson, who made a similar run with the ball to his opener. When through on goal this time, however, the Dons striker saw his shot kept out by Eastwood.
The Dons had issues building up momentum, but they did come close when sub Aaron Collins fired straight at the keeper Eastwood.
But Cambridge were showing some confidence, and they equalised with 24 minutes remaining. James Gibbons stole the ball off newly arrived Dons sub Dan Crowley and placed the ball to Kaikai. The Cambridge man duly ran inside and played a fine strike that flew beyond MacGillivray’s grasp to equalise for the visitors, much to the delight of a packed away section.
MK Dons nearly restored their advantage nearly immediately, as sub Will Collar touched the ball back to Jon Mellish, who saw a strike beat Eastwood but just bobble wide.
The visitors had looked more likely to do something but when they reached the box, they proved to be having difficulties in creating opportunities to trouble the Dons’ goal.
In the final stages, the best chance fell the way of the Dons. Mellish teed up Collins, who fired a snapshot into the side-netting.
But the game would duly end level, with the Dons forced to settle for a point as they prepare for the busy Christmas period, including a tricky-looking home pair against Swindon and Notts County sides currently sat in the automatic promotion spaces.
MK Dons: MacGillivray – Offord, Ekpiteta, Maguire (Nemane 28) – Jones, Thompson-Sommers (Crowley 64), Kelly (Collar 64), Gilbey, Mellish – Paterson, Mendez-Laing (Collins 21)
Subs not used: Trueman, Leko, Tripp
Goal: Paterson (42)
Booked: Maguire, Thompson-Sommers
Cambridge: Eastwood – Bennett (Kachunga 64), Jobe, Watts, Purrington – Smith (Mpanzu 45+4), Hoddle – Kaikai (Rossi 81), Knight (Brophy 64), Mayor – Appere
Subs not used: Hughes, McConnell
Goal: Kaikai (66)
Booked: Knight
Police are appealing for witnesses following a serious injury road traffic collision in Milton Keynes.
Thames Valley Police’s appeal relates to an incident that happened at around 6pm on Tuesday (9/12) on V4 Watling Street at the junction with Favell Drive, Furzton.
During the incident, a black Audi Q2 and a black Toyota Aygo were involved in a collision.
The driver of the Toyota, a man in his thirties, suffered serious injuries and remains in hospital. Meanwhile, the driver of the Audi, a woman in her thirties, sustained minor injuries and has since been discharged.
Investigating officer PC Phillip McGlue, of the Joint Operations Roads Policing Unit, said, “We are carrying out an investigation into this collision and would urge anyone who saw what happened or has relevant footage to contact us.
“If you have any information, please call 101, quoting reference 43250626196 or make a report online via our website. Your information could be vital in helping us understand the circumstances of this collision.
“Alternatively, you can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”
A man has been convicted of the murder of his wife in Milton Keynes following a police investigation.
Andrew Georgiou, 44, of Holywell Place, Springfield, Milton Keynes, pleaded guilty to one count of murder during a hearing at Aylesbury Crown Court today (9/12).
In the early hours of Saturday 2 November 2024, Andrew Georgiou and his wife, Carol Georgiou, 42, arrived home following an evening out.
After arriving home, Carol got into the couple’s hot tub located on the patio in the rear garden.
Whilst in the hot tub, Andrew held his wife under the water causing her to drown.
About 40 minutes later, Andrew Georgiou called 999, claiming that he had found his wife unresponsive in the hot tub.
Senior Investigating Officer, Detective Inspector Michael Roddy, of the Thames Valley Police Major Crime Unit, said, “This is a tragic case and my thoughts and the thoughts of Thames Valley Police remain with Carol Georgiou’s loved ones at this difficult time.”
Andrew Georgiou will be sentenced at Aylesbury Crown Court on 9 March 2026.
A false alarm caused by insect smoke bombs caused a major fire department response in Central Milton Keynes.
Seven appliances and crews, and three officers, were mobilised to a 10-storey block of flats on Witan Gate East in Central Milton Keynes following a smoke alarm activation and reports of a smell of smoke at around 3:20pm yesterday afternoon (09/12).
Two fire engines and the turntable ladder from West Ashland were part of Buckinghamshire Fire and Rescue’s response to the situation, along with crews from Newport Pagnell, Broughton, Buckingham and a supporting crew from Bedfordshire.
The location of the smoke was identified as being a flat on the building’s first floor. Firefighters identified the cause as insect bombs. The ventilated the flat and spoke with the occupant.
Police are appealing for witnesses following a fail-to-stop incident in Wolverton in which a motorist made an attempt to evade officers.
The incident happened at around 2pm on Sunday (7/12). A black Volvo V60 failed to stop for police and drove dangerously in an attempt to evade officers, narrowly avoiding collisions with other road users on Stratford Road.
The incident began on Stratford Road and continued up to Galley Hill before the car was recovered as an abandoned vehicle on Clailey Court, Galley Hill.
The offender driving the vehicle is described by Thames Valley Police as a white man with brown hair and was wearing a white/grey jacket.
Investigating officer PC Jack Boyden said, “We are appealing for witnesses who may have seen the incident, the black Volvo V60 or the driver at the time or immediately afterwards.
“If you were driving around this area during this time or after and may have dash cam footage, please contact us. If you live locally and have video doorbell or CCTV footage, please come forward.
“If you have any information or footage, please make a report online or by calling 101, quoting reference 43250621255.
“Alternatively, for 100% anonymity, you can also call the independent charity, Crimestoppers, on 0800 555 111 or report via its website.”
