PAWEL ABBOTT stayed on target for 30 goals this season with a double to sink the lacklustre Dons.
He's Town's first `tenner' in goal terms this season and, with manager Peter Jackson demanding more goals from the Polish import, perhaps he should change his name to Pav-alotti.
At this rate, the 22-year-old could become the first Town striker to hit 30 since Andy Booth almost a decade ago and few would begrudge him the honour.
He works hard, has a cracking shot in either boot - as does Junior Mendes, who scored the other - and he's not afraid to link up with intuitive flicks and touches.
Abbott slots nicely, in fact, into Town's entertaining style and, by the looks of it, he's going to be on penalty duty for the rest of the season.
"I am expecting Pav to get me 30 goals this season and when he mentioned a couple of weeks ago about taking penalties I just said to him if you're confident enough, get on with it," said Jackson.
"The way he grabbed the ball and smashed home the penalty shows how confident he is - but all the players are enjoying it at the moment and we are looking a good side.
"To be honest, I thought Pav had a poor start to the game because he kept giving the ball away, but he took his first goal really well and never looked back after that."
Abbott's opening strike came after 32 minutes and was the result of a ball-winning tackle from Jonathan Worthington which gave possession to Andy Holdsworth.
His push through enabled Abbott to break a tackle from Dean Lewington and hammer in a rising near-post shot.
Abbott had already gone close with a header and then set up Mendes for a cracking drive across goal - but the speedy frontman was soon celebrating his sixth goal in as many games.
It came in the 44th minute and with a raking left-foot drive which keeper David Martin could only help into the top righthand corner of his net.
You sensed then that the game was over, but it certainly was in the third minute of injury time when, after a break involving Abbott, the lively Chris Brandon and Holdsworth in the box, Gareth Edds handled for the spot kick.
Excellent referee Clive Oliver was on the mark to see the offence, handing Abbott his 11th goal of the season, and it was a shame the Cumberland official blotted his copybook with a harsh penalty award against Holdsworth for handball five minutes from time.
It gave the Dons a spot-kick consolation through skipper Ben Chorley and wiped out the chance of a clean sheet for Phil Senior on his return to the starting line-up for the injured Ian Gray.
All the defence played solidly, including the returning David Mirfin and the excellent Nathan Clarke, and it was a pity Town couldn't add to their tally - Tony Carss going close after a superb run through and Holdsworth testing Martin with a 20-yard drive which Brandon almost followed up.
"Some of our play was excellent," added Jackson, who has already spoken to a potential loan keeper. "If we can turn our good 30 and 40-minute spells into longer we are going to beat somebody by eight, no danger.
"We were professional and, despite the pace slackening, we were also quite entertaining, and I can't ask much more from the lads in terms of effort.
"If we'd picked up the points we should have, we'd be second in the table, but I'm pleased at the moment."
Next: Man of the Match >>>
Man of the Match: Nathan Clarke
Another superb show of quality defending and one tackle on Malvin Kamara in the midfield, sticks in the memory. Hardly put a foot wrong and long may his outstanding form continue
How they rated:
Phil Senior Did all that was asked behind a very solid defence, handled well and dominated the box. Made one fine save Rating: 7/10
Andy Holdsworth Warmed the keeper's hands with a rasping shot in the second half and unlucky to be punished for the MK Dons penalty Rating: 7/10
Anthony Lloyd Unlucky with a back post volley in the first half and kept raiding forward in the second. Saw shot deflected over Rating: 7/10
David Mirfin Contained the threat of McLeod with efficiency before going off with a head injury. Very solid return to the line-up Rating: 7/10
Efe Sodje Clever play when he hooked the ball over McLeod before nodding it back to Senior summed up a good day Rating: 7/10
Nathan Clarke Commanding display at the back and very much involved going forward with his long throw and his accurate passes Rating: 8/10
Tony Carss A bit isolated in the first half he bounced back to be much more prominent in the second and almost scored Rating: 7/10
Jon Worthington Great tackle before the opening goal and found some encouraging space when pressing forward. He's in fine form Rating: 7/10
Chris Brandon Got a terrific reception when he went off and was involved in much of Town's best trickery going forward. Lively Rating: 7/10
Pawel Abbott Two more goals and a spell of top-class striker's play in the first half to put Town on top. Watch out Blackpool! Rating: 7/10
Junior Mendes Having flattened Luton with his right foot, he did the same to the Dons with his left. Now six goals in six games Rating: 7/10
Verdict on the ref: Easily the best referee seen at the Galpharm this season, Clive Oliver from Cumberland stamped his authority without waving cards here, there and everywhere.
He wrongly awarded a goalkick when Town should have had a corner from Worthington's shot in the first half and his penalty for handball against Holdsworth was harsh but, apart from those, he was excellent.
Even Peter Jackson said: "I haven't had much cause to praise referees this season but now I have. He was superb from start to finish and all credit to him."
MK Dons: Martin, Ntimban-Zeh, Lewington, Chorley, Kamara, Small, Tapp (Puncheon 63), Edds (Oyedele 70), Herve, Palmer, McLeod (Pacquette 88). Subs not used: Heald and Crooks.
