Latics' FA Cup hopes ended for another season

Latics lost 3-1 at League Two rivals MK Dons

Latics' FA Cup hopes were ended at the second round stage as they were beaten 3-1 at League Two rivals MK Dons.

Joe Tomlinson fired the hosts ahead late on in the first half, before Liam Kelly doubled their lead after the break.

Luke Hannant scored a penalty for Latics, but Nathaniel Mendez-Laing's stoppage-time goal confirmed MK Dons' progression.

The home side took the lead in the 42nd minute as Tomlinson's firm strike from the edge of the box beat Matthew Hudson.

Paul Warne's men nearly struck again just after the break, with Hudson's double save denying Will Collar before Callum Paterson hit a post.

Latics came close to equalising when Craig MacGillivray kept out Tom Pett, but the Dons would double their lead in the 57th minute.

Kelly was first to a loose ball on the edge of the Latics box and his crisp strike flew into the bottom corner.

Latics grabbed a goal back when substitute Hannant scored a 75th-minute penalty after Laurence Maguire's foul on Mike Fondop.

The Dons made sure of victory in added time as substitute Mendez-Laing received Kelly's long pass, rounded Hudson and rolled the ball home.

Latics boss Micky Mellon said: “They (the Dons) are a good team.

"You have to come here and respect that they're a good side.

“They have loads of quality all over the pitch and we had to make sure that we got players to their players and tried to put them under pressure. 

“We still came here today to get a result and I expected us to do that.

"But we didn't show the qualities we needed at vital times to go and get something.”

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