MK Dons picked up a point as they drew 1-1 with fellow League Two promotion contenders Notts County at Stadium MK.
The visitors had taken the lead through Tom Iorpenda, whose goal had been the winner for Notts County at home to MK Dons earlier in December.
But an equaliser from Callum Paterson recovered a point for the home side, who extended an unbeaten run at home in the league stretching back to late September. Having lost just one of their last nine league games, the Dons sit 4th, though they are 3 points off automatic promotion.
After beating another promotion rival in Swindon Town on Boxing Day, the Dons’ last game of 2025 brought them into a second meeting in a month with the Magpies, who beat MK Dons 3-2 on that occasion. But after Notts County’s Boxing Day defeat by Chesterfield, MK Dons arrived ahead in the table and hoping to make it back-to-back wins.
As it was, a stop-start feeling to the game saw the best early opportunities end up with Notts County having blocked shots from outside the box while the Dons’ Boxing Day matchwinner Aaron Nemane saw a shot skew wide.
Former Dons striker Matt Dennis would fire straight at Craig MacGillivray from outside the box, before the best chance of the opening phase fell for the Dons. Jack Sanders’ original header from a corner was blocked, but the ball fell the way of Jon Mellish, who saw a strike hit the post.
Notts County would then up the tempo with a few opportunities. Alassana Jatta saw a strike from a tight angle denied by MacGillivray, before Dennis headed over at a corner.
Just when it seemed as though the game was set to drift to a scoreless half-time break, however, Notts County broke the deadlock. The visitors went on a counter forward and the ball was worked by Nick Tsaroulla to Iorpenda. The midfielder controlled then placed a neat strike from just outside the box into the bottom corner.
Unimpressed by his side’s first half work, Paul Warne made a trip substitution at half-time, but one of the players who stayed on would come close to an equaliser. Paterson won the ball off Oliver Norburn, broke forward and saw a strike ripple the outside of the netting on its way behind.
Notts County nearly responded by making it 2-0, as Jacob Bedeau’s volley from Tyrese Hall’s free-kick only cleared the top of the bar by inches.
Still struggling to create chances, Warne opted to bring in Dan Crowley, who had been the subject of boos from the away section nearly a year on from his move from Meadow Lane to Stadium MK.
But having struggled to create, things duly broke the Dons’ way. Dennis was dispossessed by Alex Gilbey, and the Dons captain duly lead a charge down their left flank. He teed up substitute Rushian Hepburn-Murphy, whose strike was denied by a good save from Kelle Roos, but Paterson followed up to drill it into the back of the net and make it 1-1.
Buoyed by that, the Dons had a brief flurry where they pushed to complete the comeback, with their two best chances falling for Hepburn-Murphy. He saw one strike go wide and another comfortably stopped by Roos.
After a few free-kicks, however, MK Dons’ attacking momentum fizzled out. The final stages would see Notts County win multiple free-kicks within range of the Dons’ box, but none of those came to anything and it would ultimately see the game end with the points being shared.
MK Dons: MacGillivray – Sanders, Ekpiteta, Offord – Nemane (Jones 45), Thompson-Sommers (Lemonheigh-Evans 45), Kelly (Crowley 67), Gilbey, Mellish – Collins (Hepburn-Murphy 45), Paterson
Subs not used: Trueman, Hogan, Leko
Goal: Paterson (70)
Booked: Thompson-Sommers, Gilbey
Notts County: Roos – Macari (Ness 90), Platt, Bedeau – Kouhyar (Gordon 60), Hall (Jones 90), Norburn, Iorpenda, Tsaroulla – Dennis (Grant 77), Jatta
Subs not used: Griffiths, Hinchy, Bennetts
Goal: Iorpenda (45)
Booked: Dennis, Hall
Leah Williamson has received a CBE, with the Milton Keynes-born football star announced as receiving the honour in the New Year’s Honours List.
The 28-year-old received her award for services to football, having been the captain of the England team that won the 2025 Women’s Euros in Switzerland. It is her second state honour, with Williamson having previously received an OBE in 2023.
She was one of 6 people associated with the Lionesses to receive an honour after the team retained their Euros crown. Williamson’s teammates Alex Greenwood, Keira Walsh, Georgia Stanway and Ella Toone all received MBEs, while the Dutch-born England national team coach Sarina Wiegman was awarded with an honorary Dame.
The England team doctor Dr Ritan Mehta, who had been a long-serving part of the England backroom, was also honoured with an MBE.
In a statement, Wiegman said, “This title is a reflection of my exceptional team of players and staff. My congratulations go to Alex, Ella, Georgia, Keira, Leah and also Dr Ritan Mehta who have all been celebrated for their brilliant contributions.
“Our team values mean that when there is recognition for one, then there is recognition for all. I want to pay tribute to every member of our Euro squad.”
Debbie Hewitt, chair of the FA, also congratulated the honoured England players, including Leah.
Hewitt said, “It has been another historic year for the Lionesses, and on behalf of everyone at the FA, I would like to congratulate Alex, Ella, Georgia, Keira and Leah.
“All of their contributions extend far beyond their outstanding performances on the pitch, which helped secure back-to-back European Championships in 2022 and 2025. Equally important is their shared commitment to making a positive impact on society. Each of them has embraced the responsibility of being a role model for a generation of girls with sincerity and purpose. They have not only lifted trophies but helped lift the sport and society itself. Their recognition is thoroughly deserved.”
Williamson, who was born and raised in the Milton Keynes area, has made 64 appearances for the England team, having also made over 270 appearances for Arsenal’s women’s team. She helped her club side win the Women’s Champions League earlier this year, capping off a very successful year.
Paul Warne was happy to see MK Dons pick up three points but felt his side could’ve scored more goals in a Boxing Day win over Swindon Town.
Warne spoke after a fine Aaron Nemane goal saw the Dons register a 1-0 win over the Robins at Stadium MK.
MK Dons did create and miss opportunities to make it 2-0, but Nemane’s goal was enough to grab the hosts victory in a contest between two promotion chasing sides, with the Dons moving up to 4th in the table and now one point off the automatic promotion places.
While he felt the Dons could’ve got another, Warne was still content to pick up the rewards.
He said, “Really positive. These Boxing Day games sometimes throw up a few anomalies and you’re not 100% sure what you’re going to get.
“Generally, I was really pleased with the energy we play with. I just thought we needed the second goal to make it a more comfortable ending, though we are value for money on the stress-o-meter. So I was pleased with the efforts we put in, I just think we needed a second goal.
“Swindon had a good chance first half and a good chance second half, apart from that, I don’t think they really laid a glove on us. I don’t think Craig (MacGillivray) made loads of saves. I just thought we probably edged it. That’s my honest opinion – two good teams trying to go for it, and the more they went for it, the more we had the opportunity to get a second on the counter. We probably squandered a few chances.”
Despite the win, Warne said that the final stages did have an uncomfortable feeling in the moment due to fears an equaliser could be plundered.
He said, “I kept thinking it was now, it was now and I can reduce my anxiety. But it didn’t feel like it was coming. The longer the game goes on, we’ve all watched football in our lives to know it takes just one cross into the box, Sanders heads it against the back of Marvin’s head, it drops to a centre-forward who spins, turns, goal and you wonder where that’s come from.
“The randomness of it all in the last 10 minutes made it more stressful but when I watch it back, I’ll probably think it was more comfortable than I thought. I just thought when we did break, we didn’t really end with winning enough corners, free-kicks or throw-ins.”
Victory against a Swindon side who are at the top end with MK Dons comes in a busy period for Warne’s side, who also face a Monday night game against Notts County, a New Year’s Day match at Colchester and a home meeting with Chesterfield. But Warne said he was happy winning the first of these games was a good start.
He said, “I looked at this that the next 4 games are, on paper, the 4 toughest games we’ve got for a while. If we come out of it with a certain number of points, which I’ll keep to myself, I said to the lads that if we have that total, we come to the New Year in great shape. It’s a good start obviously to win a home game, now we have another one, then we’ve got Colchester away, who are really in-form and look bang on it, then come back here for Chesterfield, which is also another tough game.
“I’m under no illusions but its good to beat the teams around you. When we come in and see results, because that’s the first thing you do and then I look at the teams my friends manage, but we look at the results and we see all the top 6 seem to have won.
“If you can pick up wins off the teams around you, it’ll help come the end of the year.”
Police are appealing for witnesses following an arson incident in the village of Stewkley on the outskirts of Milton Keynes.
The appeal relates to an incident that happened between 5.45am and 6.30am on Saturday (20/12), when fire was discovered in the walkway area in the pub garden of The Swan Pub by the victim, a man in his thirties. The blaze then spread to the pub’s kitchen.
Fire services attended the scene, and having reviewed the potential cause of the fire, believed it could have been started deliberately.
The case was duly reported it to Thames Valley Police, who have now opened a full investigation and launched an appeal into the incident.
The victim did not sustain any injuries.
Investigating officer, Detective Constable Arina Matvejenko said, “Our thorough investigation is ongoing to work out the circumstances of this offence.
“As part of our investigation, I am appealing to anyone that may have witnessed anything or has information that may help to please get in touch.
“We are also appealing to the individual was found sleeping in the walkway area in the early hours of the morning on Saturday, who may be able to assist us with our investigation.
“If you were driving around this area between 1am and 7am on Saturday 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 43250644814.
Alternatively, for 100% anonymity, you can also call the independent charity, Crimestoppers, on 0800 555 111 or report via its website.”
A superb strike by Aaron Nemane was enough for MK Dons to record a 1-0 win over promotional rivals Swindon Town at Stadium MK.
Nemane’s first half goal was the only goal of the Boxing Day bash at Stadium MK, as despite both sides having other opportunities, there was no further goal added to the scoreboard.
The victory in the first of 4 games in a row that the Dons have against teams around them in the table sees them climb up a place to 4th. They are also now 1 point off the automatic promotion spots ahead of another promotion six pointer against Notts County on Tuesday.
Having recorded a comfortable victory over struggling Harrogate in their last pre-Christmas contest, MK Dons now turned their attention to the first of two promotion six pointers. This contest saw them take on a Swindon Town side who arrived in good form, with the Robins losing just one of their previous nine outings and starting Boxing Day level on points with leaders Walsall.
Swindon scored within the opening minute of the corresponding fixture 13 months ago, and it was they who had some early chances. Darren Oldaker had an early try blocked, before Craig MacGillivray had to make a save to deny Will Wright’s long-range free-kick.
The Dons soon offered a little more, with Alex Gilbey and Will Collar having shots blocked and Jamie Knight-Lebel having to intercept a dangerous cross seemingly well placed for Callum Paterson.
With 17 minutes on the dot, MK Dons then found a breakthrough. Nemane picked the ball up on the left flank in front of the away dugout, eluded 3 Swindon defender’s challenges as he cut inside and opted to let fly from range. His strike duly flew into the back of the net to open the scoring in fine style.
Paterson would head wide when well placed moments later, before Swindon began to up the ante themselves.
Jack Sanders, who returned after a 3 game ban, had made one good intervention to stop Paul Glatzel running through. But a few moments later, Sanders made a fine block on the line to turn Glatzel’s goalbound shot onto the bar. Finley Munroe whacked the rebound into the stands.
A few moments after Sanders’ intervention, MK Dons came very close to the lead when a searching long ball released Aaron Collins, and the Dons striker’s fine first time strike was tipped onto the post by Swindon keeper Connor Ripley.
Collins continued his determination to grab a first league goal at Stadium MK, with the striker having one shot blocked, another go wide and just after half-time, the former Bolton man tried his luck from an acute angle that flashed narrowly wide.
Sanders came close to make it 2-0 with the defender seeing a header from a Liam Kelly free-kick well saved by Swindon keeper Ripley.
The visitors then had a very good chance to equalise, with MacGillivray making a big save to deny Knight-Lebel and the Canadian defender’s rebound hit the side-netting, with some Swindon fans thinking the effort had found its way into the net.
Chasing the game, Swindon threw on changes to try and wrestle control in their favour. But despite losing Collar to injury, it was the Dons who were created a decent opportunity when Gilbey saw a strike denied by Ripley.
Swindon had been enjoying possession as they attempted to try to break down the Dons defensive ranks, but in the late stages, it was the Dons that created and spurned a great chance to make it 2-0. While Kane Thompson-Sommers couldn’t connect with Paterson’s cross, the loose ball fell kindly for Rushian Hepburn-Murphy, only for the substitute to wallop a strike from a decent position into the stands.
Despite 7 minutes of stoppage time, MK Dons would hold out, taking the points and providing their fans with a late Christmas present. It also gave them a good start to a busy week that sees them face games with fellow play-off or promotion contenders Notts County, Colchester and Chesterfield.
MK Dons: MacGillivray – Offord, Ekpiteta, Sanders – Jones (Lemonheigh-Evans 88), Collar (Thompson-Sommers 63), Kelly, Gilbey, Nemane (Mellish 63) – Paterson, Collins (Hepburn-Murphy 70)
Subs not used: Trueman, Crowley, Leko
Goal: Nemane (17)
Booked: Collar
Swindon: Ripley – Wright, Knight-Lebel, Tafazoli (Ball 72) – McGregor (Snowdon 60), Nichols, Oldaker (Tabor 88), Kilkenny, Munroe (Palmer 60) – Glatzel, Bodin (Ehibhatiomhan 72)
Subs not used: Ward, Mabete, Tabor
Booked: Munroe, Oldaker
