A second goal in as many games from Will Hayhurst gave North End a hard-earned point at stadium:mk.
The home side came out of the blocks at pace and took the lead within 90 seconds, Ryan Lowe capitalising on some hesitancy at the back and picking out Adam Chicksen to slam into the top left hand corner from six yards out, giving Declan Rudd no chance.
However, it only took five minutes for North End to draw level as Will Hayhurst made it two in two weeks. Great advantage was played by the referee Tony Bates after an offside, and this allowed Lee Holmes to drive down the right and curl a right-footed ball to the back post, where the onrushing Hayhurst slammed home from six yards out into the top left hand corner.
Manager Simon Grayson had made only one enforced change, Paul Connolly coming in for the suspended Keith Keane and it was great defending by the Leeds loanee that kept the home side out on nine minutes. Otsemobor’s pace had created space on the right and he drove a ball to the back post for Chadwick, but the North End No.15 got in and made a vital intervention.
Twenty minutes in and North End created another opening as Jack King knocked the ball down into box from Buchanan’s ball in; Beavon spun and shot, but it was blocked for a corner.
Just after the half hour mark Beavon drilled a low shot in from the edge of the ‘D’ that was blocked by Dons’ keeper McLoughlin, but he couldn’t hold it and it came back in to Jack King whose shot was well blocked by Williams.
Just before the interval Paul Huntington made two brilliant blocks to keep the scores level at the break. Both came from shots by Ryan Lowe, the PNE man putting his body on the line at close range after a cross from Chadwick on the right - brilliant full-blooded defending from the No.4.
Just before the hour mark a good chance for the Dons was brilliantly blocked by David Buchanan; the full back getting in front of Ryan Lowe's effort from around the penalty spot after Chris Lines' right wing corner.
Shortly after the same back had a real coming together with Bailey Wright, the latter's knee accidentally connecting with his team-mates neck; both physios needed to treat the PNE pair, but eventually both were able to continue.
At the midway point in the half North End countered quickly, Bailey Wright reading the game and feeding Beavon; he ran into a left hand channel, before teeing up Nicky Wroe, supporting from midfield, but the No.8's shot was just over the bar from 20 yards.
North End earned a free kick through Lee Holmes right on the right hand edge of the box moments later; Will Hayhurst ciurled it over the wall towards the top corner, but an acrobatic save from Ian McLoughlin brought a corner.
The Lilyhwites were screaming for a penalty in the 74th minute when a superb pacy counter attack broke down the left with Will Hayhurst cutting inside his man and seemingly hauled down by Chicksen, but referee Tony Bates waved the claims away.
The home side had a dangerous free kick of their own in the 86th minute, 28 yards from goal after John Welsh was harshly adjudged to have fouled Chadwick, but luckily Lines' free kick was wide of the left hand post.
Four minutes were added on, but it remained level, with North End taking their unbeaten run to three games.
: McLoughlin, Otsemobor Milton Keynes Dons line-up(Bowditch, 68), Lewington, Williams, Potter, Chicksen, Lowe, Powell, Lines, Kay, Chadwick. Subs not used: Kouo-Doumbe, McLeod, Flanagan, Baldock, Rasulo.
: Rudd, Connolly, Buchanan (Robertson, 82), Welsh, Huntington, Wright, Holmes (Garner, 89), Wroe, Beavon (Monakana, 77), King, Hayhurst. Subs not used: Stuckmann, Procter, Beardsley, Mousinho.PNE line-up
: Mr Tony BatesReferee
: 8,412 (678 away fans)Attendance