MK Dons Under 18s unbeaten run was brought to an end by Academy champions Leicester City on Saturday.

Mike Dove's side, who had won three and drawn one of their previous four in 2008, were beaten 2-0 by a talented Foxes side despite an impressive first half performance.

The young Dons enjoyed relative parity in the first period, finding some of their best form in recent weeks, but were outplayed after the break by their decorated opponents.

Leicester's first goal, a header from a set-piece, came just seconds before half-time and masked a solid opening 45 minutes from Mike's team, who had gone close through Liam Kelly, Stephane Koffi and trialist Charlie Barnett.

Mike said: "Apart from the goal, where we were caught out a little bit, I thought we'd got ourselves into the game well.

"Once we started to compete for balls up front we started to keep possession quite well and put some decent passages of play together.

"Our midfield players were getting forward, Stephane was finding space in the hole and I felt if we could maintain it in the second half we'd have some success."

Leicester came out much improved in the second half and that, coupled with an injury to full-back Miles Mitchell-Coop that forced a reshuffle, put the Dons right on the back-foot.

The second goal seemed inevitable, but it took another set-piece to break the Dons down - a delivery from the right on 67 minutes headed past Laurie Walker.

A Kelly shot aside, it was a half in which the Dons struggled to manage a Foxes side that ditched their direct tactics in favour of a shorter, sharper passing game.

Mike said: "To be fair to Leicester, they came out flying in the second half and really caused us a lot of problems.

"They're right up there at the top of the table and in the second half they showed why. They upped their game and were the better side.

"I'm frustrated because I saw enough in the first half to suggest we were capable of taking something from the game."

MK Dons: Walker, Mitchell-Coop (Ashraf 56), Thorne, Flanagan, Chicksen, King, Barnett (Shuter 53), Kelly, Powell (Farden 87), Koffi, Delderfield.

Subs: Fox, Newman.

The Under 18s are back in action on Friday 22 February when they travel to Birmingham City for their rearranged away fixture against the Blues. Kick off is at 2.00pm.