Milton Keynes Dons claimed a 2-1 victory at home against Port Vale courtesy of two goals from Bradley Johnson.
Johnson's brace were the first league goals scored by the Dons this season, ending their three-game losing streak and ensuring the side left Stadium MK with all three points.
The match started with the Dons giving away consecutive free kicks inside their own half, before regaining composure and sending the ball forward at every opportunity - with Ethan Robson trying a wishful long ball to Louie Barry down the left, seeing his effort go out for a goal kick.
After his comments in the Dons' pre-match press conference yesterday, Barry looked particularly lively in the early stage of the game, skipping a tackle before taking the ball deep into the Vale half - attempting to send the ball into the visitors' box with regularity.
The Dons could consider themselves lucky after Port Vale squandered an ideal chance to put themselves ahead, with Jack Tucker caught alone at the back with the visitors overlapping. Dean Lewington, fortunately, came sliding in to his rescue to put enough pressure on the Vale attacker that saw the ball go out for a goal kick.
A sudden moment of brilliance saw the Dons take the lead after 33 minutes, with Bradley Johnson taking the ball on from a Matt Smith pass outside the area and striking it perfectly, down low and out of Stevens' reach.
Warren O'Hora made a crucial block with his body minutes after the Dons took the lead, denying Chris Hussey, who was wide open in the Dons area and able to get a clean shot away.
Both sides looked eager to score after the opener, with Matt Dennis hitting a low strike into the arms of Stevens, with the visitors following up with a clean hit of their own - this time with Cummings standing firm to collect the ball out of the air.
Neither team added to the score before the half-time whistle, with the Dons holding onto their slim lead at the break.
The Dons made a change at the break, reverting back to their familiar back three by substituting Barry for Daniel Oyegoke.
Matt Smith gave away a penalty on the edge of the Dons box five minutes into the second half, with his sliding tackle attempting to prevent the visitors from getting a threatening shot away. Fortunately for the home side, the dead ball hit the wall and was cleared from danger.
The Dons then countered well, sending the ball down the pitch and seeing Smith himself get a shot away outside the Vale area, with the deflection sending it out for a corner.
Liam Manning's side then had another effort blocked from the edge of the box, with Ethan Robson set up nicely by Henry Lawrence after the wing-back managed to round two defenders in the box before laying off a pass.
Lawrence played hero once again as he managed to clear a Vale shot off the line to keep the Dons ahead, with the visitors suddenly growing in confidence and pressing forward with much assertiveness.
Vale threatened to pull things level with a free kick sent deep into the Dons box, taking a deflection off a visiting player and out for a goal kick.
With less than 15 minutes remaining in the match, the Dons appeared to turn things up a notch and began piling on more pressure on their opponents - even seeing Stevens spill a low-hit Lawrence shot with 12 minutes to go.
Dennis then forced Stevens into making an excellent diving save with his long-range effort, earning a corner in the final ten minutes of regulation.
The Dons had a golden opportunity to extend their lead late into the game when Dan Kemp was fouled right on the edge of the penalty area.
Johnson took the opportunity with both hands as he smashed the ball low, under the Vale wall, and into the bottom corner to send the Dons fans into rapturous applause, giving the Dons a 2-0 lead with less than five minutes remaining.
With six minutes of added time, Port Vale were able to pull a goal back from a free kick, with Ellis Harrison tapping in from close range.
The visitors, buoyed by their goal, began to put pressure on the Dons, earning a few corners as time dwindled down. Stevens came up for two to try and give his side even more of a chance to steal a result.
It wasn't enough, however, and the Dons held on to secure a 2-1 victory - their first of the 2022/23 League One season. It's another quick turnaround for the Dons, who face Accrington Stanley at Stadium MK this Saturday, determined to start picking up even more points at this early stage of the season.
MK Dons Line-Up: Cumming, Lawrence, O'Hora, Tucker, Lewington, Johnson, Robson, Smith (70' Grant), Kemp (87' Devoy), Barry (45' Oyegoke), Dennis
