MK Dons won on penalties in the Bristol Street Motors Trophy with a 3-1 shootout win over the Arsenal under-21s after a 2-2 draw.
In the 90 minutes, Ellis Harrison would put the Dons in front, only for Andre Harriman-Annous to equalise less than five minutes later.
Harrison would quickly put MK Dons back in front, but the game’s fourth goal in just over ten minutes would see Nathan Butler-Oyededi strike a second equaliser for the Arsenal juniors.
The Dons suffered a blow when Callum Tripp was taken off injured, leaving them having to play the final stages a man down.
But the Dons managed to pick up the point for a draw and then the bonus point for winning in the shoot-out, thanks to Craig MacGillivray marking his return to the first-team with three saves.
The result maintains the Dons’ hopes of qualifying for the knockout rounds ahead of their final assignment in the competition’s group stage against Leyton Orient in mid-November.
The second of three home games for MK Dons in a week would make up their second assignment in the group stages of the Bristol Street Motors Trophy. Having lost to Colchester in their opener in what turned out to be Mike Williamson’s final game in charge, the Dons knew a defeat would see them at severe risk of a group stage elimination from the competition.
MK Dons opted for a total reshuffle from the weekend’s draw against Tranmere Rovers, with Scott Lindsey changing all eleven names from that game. This included a first start of the season for MacGillivray in goal, recalls following absences for Sam Sherring, Joe Pritchard and Tom Carroll, and a first senior start for youngster Damerai Singh-Hurditt.
In weather that alternated between stillness and heavy rain, the opening stages saw a couple of half opportunities fall for either side without either being able to convert.
The Dons’ best chances saw Harrison and Sonny Finch have efforts blocked, while Sherring saw a flicked volley at a corner just clear the bar.
Arsenal U21s were providing danger, but were struggling to turn this into great chances, with their best seeing Jimi Gower have a shot blocked by a team-mate after MacGillivray’s pass out was intercepted, before an angled shot by Ismeal Kabia was saved by MacGillivray.
As the game carried on, it would ultimately be MK Dons that found a way through. After a fast break failed to yield a shot, the home side won a corner and from Dean Lewington’s delivery, Harrison rose highest to head home.
But the Dons’ lead would last just four minutes. A strike by Butler-Oyededi was denied by MacGillivray, and waiting in the middle was Harriman-Annous to sweep home the rebound.
Two minutes after that, however, MK Dons took the lead again. MJ Williams won the ball high up, and the loose ball fell kindly for Harrison, who was able to scoop a fine strike into the back of the net via a post.
Yet the game still continued in a goalscoring vein, with Arsenal U21s scoring to make it four goals in just over ten minutes. A handy run by Josh Robinson saw him vex the Dons’ defence before he slipped through Butler-Oyededi, who fired a shot into the roof of the Dons’ net.
The Arsenal U21 side had a bright start to the second half, with Kabia denied by MacGillivray before Salah Oulad-M’Hand had a shot blocked by MJ Williams. Similar last gap heroics also came in from Callum Tripp to block a strike by Butler-Oyededi.
Butler-Oyededi continued to look dangerous, with the striker having a shot blocked by Tripp and then another try blocked at the resulting corner.
MK Dons did have a danger of their own, however, and they came close when Rian Silver thumped a shot off the crossbar at a corner.
But the Dons would suffer a blow as Tripp would pull up while trying to lead a charge forward. With the Dons having used all 5 subs, it meant they would have to play the final ten minutes and injury time a man down.
However, the Dons navigated that without conceding, and so the game would be decided by a penalty shoot-out.
MacGillivray ended up stepping up in the shootout, denying Arsenal U21’s first two spot-kicks to keep out Michal Rosiak and then Oulad-M’Hand.
But while Dean Lewington scored the Dons’ first penalty, MJ Williams struck the crossbar to keep it close.
However, Arsenal U21 sub Harrison Dudziak would be denied by MacGillivray, who saved all of the first three kicks.
Tom Carroll would score from the spot, and although Arsenal’s Maldini Kacurri kept the visitor’s hopes alive, Tommy Leigh scored the penalty to confirm the Dons had picked up the bonus shootout point to maintain their hopes of qualifying for the next round.
MK Dons: MacGillivray – Sherring (Lewis-Burgess 51), Tripp, Lewington – Pritchard (Wood 76), Carroll, Williams, Ilunga – Singh-Hurditt (Silver 76), Harrison (Leigh 64), Finch (Medwynter 64)
Subs not used: Harness, White
Goal: Harrison (25, 31)
Arsenal U21: Martin – Robinson (Nichols 45), Kacurri, Monlouis, Lewis-Skelly – Oulad-M’hand, Rosiak, Gower (Dudziak 89( – Kabia (Forde 88), Butler-Oyededi, Harriman-Annous
Subs not used: Okonkwo, Ferdinand, Quesada-Thorn, Julienne
Goal: Harriman-Annous (29), Butler-Oyededi (36)
Two branches of the casual-dining restaurant chain TGI Fridays in Milton Keynes will remain open despite mass closures.
Branches in Milton Keynes at the MK1 shopping park by Stadium MK and near to Milton Keynes Theatre in the city centre are to stay open under the terms of the deal, which will see TGI Fridays continue to operate 51 restaurants in the UK.
The new deal will see the remaining restaurants taken over by Breal Capital and Calveton UK, who own Byron Burger and the London-based wine bar chain Vinoteca.
Hostmore, which was the company owning TGI Fridays’ UK operations, went into administration last month, and although a rescue deal was agreed for the company, 35 restaurants in the UK have been shut with immediate effect, leading to over 1,000 people losing their jobs.
Northampton is among the branches that the company confirmed has closed down, with branches in places such as Leeds, Newcastle, Manchester, Southampton, Chelmsford, Cardiff and Leeds among those also shut down.
In a statement to Sky News, TGI Fridays UK Chief Executive Julie McEwan said, “The news today marks the start of a positive future for our business following a very challenging period for the casual dining sector as a whole.
“We are devastated for our colleagues who will be leaving TGIs and thank them for their loyalty and contribution during their time with us.
“We are doing everything possible to retain our team and support those impacted.”
The move was criticised by the trade union Unite, who posted a statement on social media voicing their disapproval of the way the move has been handled.
They said, “The way in which workers have been treated across TGI Fridays today is a national disgrace. To close venues and lock people out their workforce with absolutely no notice is a moral outrage and almost certainly illegal.
This is the same company that informed the press before they told workers that they had gone into administration. Now our members are being told that they may not even be paid wages for work done!
“We are currently supporting our TGI members through this incredibly anxious situation made worse by a completely inept senior management who are sending invites to meetings with less than an hours notice. We would encourage any affected workers to contact Unite immediately to ensure they receive everything they are entitled to.”
MK Dons Head Coach Scott Lindsey was annoyed to see a late equaliser deny the club victory in his first home game in charge.
The Dons’ match against Tranmere Rovers had seen the hosts lead going into stoppage time through a first half goal by Joe White, only for Regan Hendry’s equaliser in injury time to deny MK Dons victory.
In his post-game interview, Lindsey said he felt the team switched off at a wrong moment and were punished for it.
He said, “I thought it’s a disappointing end to what I thought was a good game.
“We just had to do our job properly and see it through. You can’t switch off and be that loose with the ball at the top of the pitch. Ball turns over, they change the play, we don’t stay with the runner and it’s a goal. So we come away with one point and not three.
“I’m not here to draw games. I’m here to win and one point is no good to me.”
Lindsey felt that the team also had their chances that they didn’t take to wrap things up.
He said, “I felt we had the lion’s share of chances and we created some good chances in the game. It wasn’t to find that second goal. Alex Gilbey had a good header at the far post in the second half, while Joe took his goal great. It was a great goal. We probably should’ve asked a little more questions of the opposition in terms of our chances. I think we did have the lion’s share but I’d like more than we had. It was a good goal but it wasn’t to be enough for us to win.”
Lindsey also noted that Tranmere played the game with a different approach to what he had anticipated, but thought until the crucial moment that the team dealt with this well.
“They actually played a lot different to what I analysed. They were really direct in the games I watched, but today they actually passed the ball quite well as a team. We’re fine with that as we pressed them quite well, but yeah, we just switched off in those last moments and we drop two points based on that.”
Looking ahead to upcoming games, Lindsey said that the main goal now was to try and instil a winning mentality so MK Dons could get more points on the board.
He said, “There’s lots to be encouraged by but we have to have a winning mentality, which I think has to be mirrored by me. If I’m the leader and they see I have got that, then probably everyone will follow eventually and the ones that don’t will fall by the wayside. I’m not here to draw or lose games, I’m here to win, and we’ve got more than enough in terms of ability in that dressing room to win games every week against whatever opposition come here, home and away. Today is disappointing because I think we had it in the bag and we let it slide near the end.”
Milton Keynes City Council are encouraging residents to get flu and COVID-19 vaccinations as the NHS rolls out additional protection for those most at risk ahead of the illness season this winter.
Those who are eligible can book vaccinations for free via the NHS website, by downloading the NHS App, or by calling 119 if they can’t get online.
Vaccinations are available from this week and seek to provide vital protection to keep people from developing serious illnesses and ending up in hospital during busy winter months. Booking is straightforward and the appointment itself can take less than 10 minutes.
The full list of eligible people is available online on the NHS website, but the list of those who are eligible includes those aged over 65, pregnant women, young children and adults with an underlying health condition and people with weakened immune systems. Residents who do not qualify for a free flu jab can pay for one at their local pharmacy.
The NHS has already begun contacting vulnerable residents directly, while GP practices and other local NHS services will also support the process.
For those adults eligible for both flu and COVID-19 vaccines, the NHS will make them available at the same time, giving the option to get protection from both viruses in one visit.
Flu vaccinations for children started in September for the new school year, to help stop the virus spreading, and pregnant women have been able to get their jab from 1 September.
If you have any questions or concerns, please speak to your GP or a health professional.
Marimba Carr, Deputy Director of Public Health for Milton Keynes, said, “If you are contacted directly by the NHS, please get vaccinated. The best time to get your vaccines is now, before flu and covid start circulating more widely. They are safe and will reduce your risk of illness or spreading these viruses to others.”
“We would also encourage residents to sign up to the NHS App. It’s easy to get started and enables you to make appointments, look at your history and manage important things like repeat prescriptions.”
Northampton suffered a 4-1 defeat against early League One high-fliers Wrexham in North Wales.
On Northampton’s first visit to the Racecourse Ground since 2006, the Cobblers fell behind to an early James McClean goal.
Cameron McGeehan equalised for Jon Brady’s side, but Jack Marriott, Elliot Lee and a second for McClean took the game away from Northampton.
While Wrexham maintained a bright start as they push for a third promotion in a row, the result saw Northampton endure a third straight defeat after losses to Mansfield and Bolton in their previous two outings.
Ahead of an enforced international break due to the postponement of their trip to Wigan scheduled for next week, the Cobblers sit 20th in the League One table, one place above the relegation zone.
Northampton started brightly against a Wrexham side who began the day with a 100% home record, with Sam Hoskins and Tarique Fosu both seeing early strikes just miss the target, the former via a deflection.
But in the 8th minute, Wrexham hit back and scored. The home side worked the ball for Ryan Barnett, whose cross picked out experienced winger McClean to head home and put the Welsh side in front.
Northampton would however hit back with an equaliser just before the half-hour mark. Fosu’s corner was flicked on by Tom Eaves into the path of McGeehan, who slid in with an equaliser.
But 11 minutes later, the Hollywood-owned Welsh side went back in front. McClean turned provider as his ball set up Marriott, who duly drilled a strike past Lee Burge to make it 2-1.
Tyler Roberts saw a chance for a second equaliser denied just after half-time, but Wrexham would instead make it 3-1.
Lee would score a similar goal to the home side’s first, with a Barnett cross again causing danger and this time Lee in the right place to head home.
A volley by McClean from another teasing Barnett cross then extended Wrexham’s lead, allowing Phil Parkinson’s side to extend their lead and confirm the three points.
