Northampton Town U18s suffered a narrow 1-0 loss away to MK Dons in the EFL Youth Alliance League on Saturday morning.
MK Dons had the first chance of the match two minutes in as their forward ran through on goal and fired over from the edge of the area.
The Cobblers responded through Jack Connor who hooked his shot straight at the goalkeeper after being played in a few minutes later.
After 10 minutes, Connor pounced on a loose ball after a Dons defender misjudged a bounce but his shot from the edge of the box was charged down.
Tommy Curry found Connor with a floated cross on the quarter-of-an-hour mark, but the striker headed over from the penalty spot.
Five minutes later, the Dons' captain curled over from 25 yards before Connor nodded just wide from a Ewan Clark free-kick.
Connor closed down the goalkeeper 10 minutes before half-time, but his loose pass rebounded off the forward and back into his grateful grasp.
After the break, skipper Tom Scott carried the ball forward but shot wide from range despite having options ahead of him.
Dylan Berry denied a left-footed shot from the edge of the area on the hour mark, before the Dons regained possession and sent a scuffed effort wide.
A powerful shot was hit straight at and well dealt with by Berry a few minutes later.
The Dons broke the deadlock with a quarter-of-an-hour remaining when Courtney Lashley slipped while attempting to head a long ball clear and their forward capitalised with a powerful strike into the back of the net.
Five minutes later, Berry held a curling effort from 20 yards as the Dons looked to increase their advantage.
The Cobblers had a great opportunity to equalise with five minutes to go as substitute Kai O'Keefe crossed to Tommy Curry who had his effort from the penalty spot well saved.
Liam Cross hit the post from the edge of the box with two minutes remaining as the Cobblers pushed for an equaliser.
Ewan Clark flicked Tommy Curry's cross into the arms of the keeper moments before the final whistle blew.
The Cobblers host Cambridge United next week in their third league game of the campaign.
Starting XI - Berry (GK); Lack, Tomlinson, Abimbola, Lashley; Hill, Cross, Clark, Scott (C), Curry; Connor (Sub O'Keefe, 80). Unused Subs - Woods (GK), Irwin, Smith-Howes.
Bookings - Abimbola, Lack (Both fouls).