Matt Godden’s brace of goals helped Stevenage to a rampant victory over MK Dons in their final pre-season match of the summer.

The Comet: Darren SarllDarren Sarll (Image: Archant)

Jake Hyde and Tom Conlon also struck gold with goals against a bewildered MK Dons outfit in what was a beguiling display of attacking football from the hosts.

Stevenage burst out of the traps and were ahead inside a minute as Godden ran on to the ball, dropped his shoulder to out-fox the sliding defender and then calmly beat Charlie Burns to give Stevenage the lead.

The hosts set about MK Dons with an exuberance that was often missing last season but is so clearly visible under the tutelage of Darren Sarll, and they should have scored again but for a timely challenge from George Baldock in the box to deny Jobi McAnuff.

Charlie Burns, the MK keeper, was a late call-up to start following an injury to David Martin, and he did himself no favours with a poor clearance that landed at the feet of Goddon only for the striker’s 35-yard lob to land on top of the net.

The Comet: Karl RobinsonKarl Robinson (Image: Archant)

Ed Upson is a new recruit for Karl Robinson this summer, and the MK Dons boss will have been delighted with the midfielder’s finish from distance after he struck home the equaliser from 25 yards.

But that was as good as it got for the visitors and Boro went into the half-time break ahead following a mistake in the MK Dons defence that allowed Godden to set up Hyde for a 2-1 tap-in.

Stevenage made a double change at the break with the introduction of two players who hope to make the starting XI in next week’s League Two opener against Crewe Alexandra. Replacing Fraser Franks at left-back was attack-minded Andrew Fox, while Ben Kennedy came in for Hyde to partner Godden.

It was Godden who made it 3-1 on the hour mark from a Boro set piece. McAnuff’s corner was flicked out to the edge of the box where Charlie Lee beat a defender to the header, and Godden reacted quickly to flick it on past Burns for 3-1.

They extended their lead even further just 10 minutes later from a 20-yard free-kick on the left of the MK box. It was perfectly set up for McAnuff’s right foot, but Tom Conlon took the responsibility and with his left peg curled a superb effort around the ball and inside the post for Boro’s fourth of a promising afternoon’s work.

Stevenage: Jones, Franks (Fox 46), Henry (Kerr 90), Wilkinson, Wells (Donnellan 81), McAnuff, Conlon, Lee (McKee 81), Tonge (Gorman 77), Godden (Pett 65), Hyde (Kennedy 46). Subs: Day, Gorman, Akinyemi, Johnson.

MK Dons: Burns, Baldock (Tilney 81), Lewington (G Williams 73), Walsh, Upson (Furlong 73), Carruthers (Brittain 73), Potter (Jackson 73), G Williams (Trialist 73), Rasulo, Downing, Maynard (Tshimanga 82).