MK Dons Away Central League behind closed doors Match Report

Will Aimson played for 65 minutes of Plymouth Argyle's goalless draw at MK Dons on Tuesday afternoon as he steps up his comeback from injury.

The 25-year-old summer signing from Bury has struggled with a pelvic issue ever since arriving from the Shakers and his only outing for the Pilgrims so far came in the Leasing.com Trophy match with Bristol Rovers.

Former Blackpool stopper Aimson played the first half of the match, but managed a further 25 minutes in Argyle's opening match of the reserve team league.

With Argyle struggling defensively right now, there is every chance that this run-out will have been enough to thrust Aimson into the thoughts of manager Ryan Lowe for Saturday's League Two trip to Port Vale.

As well as Aimson, Michael Cooper started in goal and Tafari Moore and Antoni Sarcevic were also given run-outs as Lowe gave action to some of his fringe players.

Luke Jephcott, amongst the goals during a loan spell for Truro, returned to lead the attack alongside Klaidi Lolos.

The Pilgrims came up against a strong MK side with some notable names in the starting XI. Former Argyle loanee Hiram Boateng started in central midfield alongside Ryan Harley, the former Exeter City midfielder who has been the scourge of the Pilgrims in Devon derbies gone by.

MK also named Jordan Bowery and Kieran Agard in attack, all players that needed game time as they either recover from injury, or keep on top of their match sharpness.

Argyle got the game underway and after an even start, the Pilgrims conceded a penalty on nine minutes with an Argyle defender bundling over Agard.

However, Cooper guessed correctly and threw himself in the way of Agard’s kick before getting up to save the rebound as well.


The home side, reigning champions of the Central League South, began to get on top. Matty Sorinola dragged a shot wide of the upright before a low cross from the same player was deflected behind and out of the reach of the lurking Dylan Asonganyi, denying him an almost certain goal.

A rare Argyle attack saw Lolos receive the ball inside the penalty area, but his touch was poor and MK were able to clear before the home side attacked once more and Cooper was forced to punch behind under pressure from Bowery.

The corner came to nothing and Argyle responded with Sarcevic scuffing a shot into the rams of the home goalkeeper after surging run from midfield and Lolos curled a shot wide from the edge of the penalty box as Argyle again went close.

MK responded with Agard breaking down the left and firing straight at Cooper, while Dickenson's cross-shot drifted harmlessly wide of far the far post with no one on hand to turn it home.


Argyle's best chance fell to Welsh youngster Jephcott, who sprung the offside trap, but his finish was poor and well wide of Stuart Moore's goal, while Dickenson came millimetres away from breaking the deadlock when he shot goalwards, but the ball cannoned back off the crossbar.

That was how it remained at the break, despite late pressure from the home side and the dominance of Mk continued early in the second with Sorinola again going close.

Bowery was off target, in trying to turn in Dickenson's low cross, and it was the former Colchester man causing Argyle problems. Another fine Dickenson run ended with the ball being cleared at the feet of Agard.

Argyle responded with a Sarcevic shot that was blocked and Adam Randell's follow-up was deflected wide, while Lolos was denied by a brilliant diving save from Moore as the Pilgrims enjoyed their best spell so far.

Aimson lasted 65 minutes before he and Sarcevic were replaced by Alfie Wotton and Jude Boyd and after those changes, Agard was narrowly off target with a header before Bowery was also too high with a hader.

That was his last involvement as the Dons made three changes in a short space of time and as the game drew to a close, Rio Deall smashed a shot from distance against the crossbar which ensured the game finished goalless.