Milton Keynes Dons vs Hartlepool United. Sky Bet League One.
Stadium:MKAttendance7,287.
Saturday 6 August 2011 18:40, UK
Jabo Ibehre's last-gasp strike rescued a 2-2 draw for MK Dons in an entertaining opening-day clash with Hartlepool.
James Poole looked to have secured three points for the visitors with five minutes remaining after Luke Chadwick had cancelled out Adam Boyd's opener, but there was to be another twist in the tale. The Dons started brightly, with Daniel Powell hitting the crossbar via a deflection off Evan Horwood. But Hartlepool weathered the early storm to take the lead in the 20th minute. Andy Monkhouse slipped the ball between two defenders to set Horwood clear and the full-back picked out Boyd to head home. Colin Nish should have done better with a close-range header while Scott Flinders did well to keep out a Chadwick drive. MK Dons grabbed an equaliser in the 53rd minute when the Hartlepool defence stood off Chadwick and he drilled home in style. Angelo Balanta clipped the crossbar with a shot from distance and substitute Dean Bowditch curled an effort wide as the home side looked good for a second. But it was the visitors who went ahead again late on, Poole picking up the ball 35 yards from goal and bundling his way past two defenders before slotting home. There was still time for an equaliser, though, as Ibehre diverted a shot into the bottom corner.
