MK Dons played out a 0-0 draw away at Swindon Town in the final match of the 2024/25 League Two campaign.

A largely forgettable contest at the County Ground where few opportunities to test either goalkeeper were created ultimately brought the full stop on both side’s campaigns.

The draw means that the Dons have picked up three 0-0 draws under recently appointed boss Paul Warne, with only one goal being scored in their opening four contests with him in charge.

A season where MK Dons had been tipped by several pundits to be promotion candidates ultimately failed to meet these expectation, with the Dons finishing the season 19th in League Two. They ended the season ten points clear of the relegation zone and 18 behind the play-offs, with the club now facing a big summer to rebuild the squad to meet Warne’s requirements.

Seeking to build upon their unbeaten start to Warne’s tenue, MK Dons saw an early opportunity as Connor Lemonheigh-Evans had a strike blocked by Swindon captain Ollie Clarke.

Callum Hendry would later see an effort denied by home goalkeeper Connor Ripley, with his header clawed away by the home goalkeeper.

Kane Thompson-Sommers later saw a shot thwarted by Swindon keeper Ripley, while Swindon’s sole chance of note saw Will Wright have an initial free-kick blocked by a wall and a rebound land in the stands.

While the first half saw a minimal amount of opportunities, the second saw even less, with a long-range strike by Swindon’s Danny Butterworth that missed the target the closest either side got to troubling the scorers.

MK Dons had a late penalty appeal after a challenge on second half sub Travis Patterson, but the appeals didn’t go their way.

A noteworthy moment also saw Dean Lewington introduced in stoppage time, making his 917th and final competitive appearance as a player for the Dons a week on from his home farewell against Grimsby.

With no goal forthcoming, it ultimately wrapped up the Dons’ season and meant attention now turns to assembling a squad that can challenge higher up the League Two table next season.

Milton Keynes City Council have announced they are providing £100,000 in match-funding to town and parish councils so they can deliver larger community projects in their area.  

All of the city’s 48 town and parish councils were given the opportunity to submit up to three applications for funding of up to £20,000 to boost projects that will make a difference to local people but that they could not afford to deliver alone.  

Half of the money comes from the city council’s Community Infrastructure Fund with the other half coming from their own funds. This is the seventh year that the city council has boosted community projects through its Community Infrastructure Fund. 

Cllr Jennifer Wilson-Marklew, Cabinet Member for the Public Realm said, “We’re pleased to have helped town and parish councils make more than 80 community projects happen since the fund was put in place. We’ve helped lots of projects that are important to local people, from accessible play equipment to flood protection equipment and solar panels.” 

A multitude of projects are receiving funds from the City Council as part of this, including projects for speed indicators, bollards, accessibility measures, dog waste bins, car park resurfacing, footpaths and play area equipment.

A full list of what has been provided is available on the MK City Council website.

To make it onto the final list, projects are scored against criteria including ‘does it solve a persistent or safety issue’, ‘does it have community support’ and ‘does it provide long term value for residents’. 

Applications to the Fund for 2026/27 can be made by town and parish councils between 1 April and 31 August. Application details have been sent to each of the 48 town, community and parish councils across the city. 

Luton Town have been relegated from the Championship after a 5-3 defeat at West Bromwich Albion.

Defeat at the Hawthorns combined with a draw for Hull City at Portsmouth meant Luton suffered back-to-back relegations, having dropped out of the Premier League 12 months ago. The Hatters finished the season on 49 points, level with the Tigers but they were relegated on goal difference.

Victory in the West Midlands would’ve secured Luton survival, but braces by Tom Fellows and Callum Styles along with a Daryl Dike goal instead left the Hatters at the mercy of results elsewhere. Millenic Alli had scored to make it 1-1 early on, but Jordan Clark and Alli’s goals came after West Brom had already bagged their five.

Luton fans were left checking score apps in the hope that Portsmouth could score a late goal to beat Hull City at Fratton Park. But such a goal wouldn’t be scored, leaving Luton in the relegation zone when the musical chairs stopped.

The Hatters will be playing third tier football next season for the first time since 2019, becoming only the third team in the last 15 years to suffer back-to-back drops from Premier League and Championship after Wolves in 2011-13 and Sunderland in 2016-18.

Having won their previous three games before the season finale, Luton were in a tight cluster of teams hoping to avoid following relegated Cardiff and the practically relegated Plymouth. They were a point above Hull going into the game, but level on points with Derby and Preston and a single point behind Stoke.

Against a West Brom side that could no longer reach the play-offs and who had failed to beat either Derby or Cardiff in their last two, Luton had hopes they could pull off the win they needed.

Things got off to a bad start, however, when they trailed after seven minutes. Fellows was able to cut inside after collecting the ball and he duly squeezed a shot beyond Thomas Kaminski.

But Luton trailed for all of two minutes. Alli picked up Thelo Aasgaard’s pass, twisted away from Kyle Bartley and drilled a fine strike into the back of the net.

As the half continued, news filtered through that Hull and Preston had taken the lead in their games, meaning Luton needed a response to preserve their advantage.

Instead, things went in reverse after two goals in three minutes saw West Brom take control of the contest.

First, striker Dike scored his first Championship goal in two injury-hit years when the striker headed in Styles’ cross, before Dike laid the ball off for Fellows to fire past Kaminski. That strike made it 3-1, and left Luton very much at the mercy of results elsewhere.

A little bit of hope resurfaced when Portsmouth equalised in the opening minutes of the second half, which could have spurned Luton on to try and pull the game back to 3-3.

That however would not happen, as two goals by Styles in four minutes saw West Brom seize even further control of the contest.

Styles made it 4-1 when he turned in Darnell Furlong’s cross from close range, and a few moments later, the same man made it 5-1 after his strike deflected in off Aasgaard.

Luton would manage to close the gap down from 5-1 to 5-3 in a chaotic game as first Clark and then Alli scored fine goals, while they came very close to making it 5-4 as substitute Tahith Chong saw a strike saved.

But eyes were very much focused on whether Portsmouth could complete a turnaround and beat Hull at Fratton Park. Had that happened, it would’ve confirmed Luton’s survival by a single point.

A winner for Portsmouth would not come, however, confirming Luton fell into the relegation zone on goal difference and meant the pain of a second relegation in a row was confirmed, with Luton facing the task of rebuilding again in the third tier of English football.

Milton Keynes Museum has announced the return of its popular history festival, which will be held over the weekend of 10 & 11 May.

The family-friendly event looks to offer visitors the opportunity to experience eras throughout the city’s past and gain a vision of ancestors who were living, working, fighting and playing during key periods in this area’s history.

From the Roman period through to the early 20th century, reenactors will be giving an insight into how life used to be in the area that is now a bustling new city.

The Vicus Romans will visit, and there will even be the opportunity to buy authentic Roman goods from a trader.

Patrons can also meet the Chanz des Reis, who will take you back to civilian, military and religious life in the High Medieval age – from the reign of King William the Conqueror to King Henry III.

Robartes Regiment Sealed Knot will then provide a window into the 17th century, the War of the Roses is represented by the English Free Companye, and the Redcoats and Revolutionaries – or Reds and Revs to their friends – look dashing in their regimental coats, explaining military life in the 1800s.

Re-enactors will be entertaining across the site all weekend, and taking turns to give demonstrations in the ever popular arena, which will include musket and cannon displays.

If you step off the beaten track while on your visit to the Museum, keep your wits about you – Highwaymen will be looking for easy targets to strip of their cash and riches. You’ve been warned!

Recent history gets a look in too, with banner waving suffragettes fighting for the right to vote – the martial arts and demos from the Enfield Reenactment Society thrilled visitors last year, and are sure to do the same this time around.

The Museum’s usual attractions will be open; you will be able to enjoy parlour games, browse the street of shops, discover more about the history of communication and transport, and the newly opened Ancient Gallery – home to the oldest resident of Milton Keynes, is a must-see.

If hunger bites, bite back with a visit to the Granary Tea Room with its affordable, tempting variety of hot and cold sandwiches and sweet treats, and the best cakes for miles around.

The Museum will be open 10.30am-4.30pm

Standard admission prices apply – which will also give you FREE entry for the following 12 months.

For more information visit miltonkeynesmuseum.org.uk