Joe Tomlinson strikes late as MK Dons beat Colchester for second-round spot

Joe Tomlinson grabbed an 87th-minute winner as MK Dons came from behind twice to win 3-2 at Colchester United and progress to the FA Cup second round.

Colchester took a 26th-minute lead when Micah Mbick received Harry Anderson’s pass and lobbed a superb shot over the onrushing goalkeeper Connal Trueman and into the vacant net, from nearly 25 yards.

The hosts had a penalty appeal rejected soon after when Mbick went down under Will Collar’s challenge in the area.

But MK Dons equalised in the 37th minute when Aaron Nemane’s pass broke the offside trap and Rushian Hepburn-Murphy’s strike deflected off Colchester goalkeeper Matt Macey and dropped into the net.

Colchester restored their lead early in the second half when Anderson netted in the 48th minute, coolly controlling Kyreece Lisbie’s pass in the box and then firing home after MK Dons defender Jack Sanders had surrendered possession in a dangerous area.

But MK Dons levelled again in the 58th minute through Hepburn-Murphy, who collected Nathaniel Mendez-Laing’s pass and drilled a neat low shot past Macey and into the far corner.

And the visitors grabbed an 87th-minute winner through Tomlinson, who slotted home decisively from Mendez-Laing’s pass to win it for MK Dons.