Collins hits four as MK Dons grab six against Doncaster

MK Dons thumped Doncaster Rovers 6-1 at Stadium MK, thanks in part to a stellar display from Aaron Collins as he bagged four goals.

The Welshman bagged the first two goals of the afternoon and after Doncaster’s Jordan Thomas had grabbed a goal back, two more Collins goals helped the Dons on their way to their fourth win in five matches.

A late double by Callum Paterson and Marvin Ekpiteta wrapped up the big win for Paul Warne’s side, who rise up to 11th place in the table as a result.

Having bagged four in a big win over managerless Bromley in midweek, MK Dons were aiming to continue their improvements in October in the match played on the final day of the month. Waiting in opposition were Doncaster, who had beaten Sheffield Wednesday a week earlier but arrived on the back of three defeats in four, including a midweek loss down the road at Luton.

MK Dons’ afternoon got off to a flying start when they took the lead after 2 minutes. Doncaster’s attempt to play the ball forward was intercepted and Ekpiteta played the ball inside to Collins, who duly got space to shoot and found the bottom corner for his tenth league goal of the season.

The early phase saw the Dons look likelier to grab a second, with Alex Gilbey having a strike blocked, Rovers keeper Tommy Simkin denying Sam Nombe and the Dons’ number 9 rounding Simkin but unable to get his angles right with a shot that went wide.

Twenty minutes after opening the scoring, the Dons would grab their second goal of the afternoon. Doncaster again gave the ball away when trying to work a forward pass, with this version intercepted by Ryan Wintle. The Dons midfielder teed up Collins, who burst into the box before dinking the shot into the bottom corner.

Simkin had to make a flying save to deny the Dons’ Dan Crowley and then also kept out Collins as the home side continued to look dangerous during the first half.

Doncaster had offered very little going forward int the first half, but the visitors did show more after the break. Home keeper Will Dennis would save a shot from outside the box by Isaac Hutchinson and he would then make another stop to deny Brandon Hanlan after the half-time sub got on the end on a cross.

Another round of Doncaster subs also nearly provided a way back for the visitors when a cross from Bayley McCann picked out Will Keane, who headed over from close range.

But just after the hour mark, Doncaster did grab the third goal of the game and pulled it back to 2-1. MK Dons couldn’t deal with a cross from the away side’s left flank and Hanlan tapped the ball back for Thomas to thump the ball over the line.

MK Dons would restore their two goal lead five minutes later, however. A sprayed pass forward by Jack Sanders fell for Collins, who eluded the attentions of a Doncaster defender, cut inside and hit in a strike that Simkin got a hand to but couldn’t prevent from crossing the line. The goal meant that Collins was able to toast his hat-trick.

Grabbing a third goal seemed to set up the Dons’ momentum to try to grab more goals, with Paterson seeing a header crash off the bar and substitute Ben Wiles denied by Simkin.

But the pressure would yield another goal when Collins grabbed his fourth of an exceptional display. The Welshman received Wiles’ pass, evaded a defender and placed the ball into the bottom corner.

Collins would leave the field shortly after to a standing ovation, but the goals didn’t stop for the Dons with the departure of the man who has already scored 16 goals for them this season.

Number five came with 9 minutes of the 90 remaining, as Simkin made a good save to deny Charlie Goode only to see Paterson react first to the loose ball and head it in.

The sixth and final goal came in the 89th minute, as Paterson saw one effort blocked and another strike the post before Ekpiteta made sure with the finish for his first goal of the season.

It duly added up to an extraordinary afternoon for the Dons, with a six goal haul seeing the Dons continue their march up the League One table.

MK Dons: Dennis – Ekpiteta, Goode, Sanders – Silvera (Jones 71), Wintle, Crowley (Wiles 66), Gilbey (Barlaser 80), Campbell – Nombe (Paterson 71), Collins (Fullah 80)

Subs not used: Stacey, Matete

Goal: Collins (2, 22, 69, 76), Paterson (81), Ekpiteta (89)

Booked: Crowley, Jones

Doncaster: Simkin – Sterry (Hanlan 45), Grehan, Byrne, Senior – Bailey, Broadbent (Gotts 45) – Thomas, Hutchinson, Ayinde (McCann 60) – May (Keane 60)

Subs not used: Clarke, McGrath

Goal: Thomas (64)

Booked: Hutchinson, Thomas, Wiles