Milton Keynes Dons suffered a 3-2 defeat to Peterborough United at Stadium MK, despite a late surge that saw them score twice in the final minutes of the game.
The game could not have started much worse for the Dons, who found themselves a goal down in less than three minutes through a Jonson Clarke-Harris strike inside the box.
Ben Thompson charged down the right flank and sent a cross deep into the Dons box, with the ball eventually finding Clarke-Harris completely unmarked and able to send the ball into the back of the net.
The Dons settled things down after the opening goal, attempting to control possession and push the ball forward often, but were unable to get much in the way of chances through the following ten minutes.
There was confusion in the 23rd minute as Jack Taylor was allowed to drill a shot from 30 yards out after the referee had blown his whistle after a Peterborough throw-in. Fortunately, the shot dipped low and Cumming was able to get down and push it out for a corner.
The visitors almost extended their lead in the 27th minute as Ricky-Jade Jones beat Daniel Oyegoke at the back, getting beyond him before attempting to slot a shot in at goal.
Cumming was able to narrowly get a fingertip to the low shot and push it onto the bar, keeping Liam Manning's side within one.
Josh McEachran had the Dons' best chance of the half, smashing a left-footed effort from outside the box and forcing goalkeeper Lucas Bergstrom into making a tip save to push the ball over the bar.
Unfortunately for the home side, it was the visitors who scored next. Peterborough piled forward into the Dons area, with a bunch of white shirts clamouring around the six-yard box, leaving Kwame Poku unmarked at the back post, where he coolly tapped in a chipped pass that cleared the Dons' defence.
Daniel Harvie attempted to pull the Dons within one again with some trickery inside the Peterborough box. He lofted the ball over a defender before smashing a right-footed effort towards goal, seeing it deflected and go out for a corner.
Boos at half-time rang out at Stadium MK as the Dons could not find a way to pull themselves back into the game in the first 45 minutes.
The second half felt much the same as the first, with the Dons not getting much in terms of chances and looking hesitant when entering the final third.
They were punished once again as Jones stole the ball from McEachran, who appeared to stumble trying to reach an awkward pass from Ethan Robson, before racing towards goal completely unchallenged and slotting the ball beyond Cumming.
The visitors were unlucky not to extend their lead further in the 66th minute as a Josh Knight header clattered off the post.
A long-range cross attempt from Joe Ward almost caught Cumming off-guard late in the game, fortunately hitting the crossbar.
Jack Tucker forced Bergstrom into palming the ball over his bar with less than three minutes remaining, earning a corner and giving the home side hope of finding a consolation goal.
The Dons found their goal as Daniel Harvie raced onto a long ball over the top of the defence down the right side, cut inside and lofted a shot into the far corner.
Fuelled with renewed determination, the Dons scored another just seconds later as Matt Smith slotted home from the edge of the box, giving the home side a sudden chance at stealing a point.
Harvie won a free kick in the dying seconds of the game, with Cumming rushing up to get involved, but it was cleared away and proved to be the last moment of the game as the referee blew the final whistle - consigning the Dons to defeat despite their late efforts.
The Dons face West Ham United Under-21s in the Papa John's Trophy on Tuesday before a trip away to Shrewsbury Town in the league next Saturday.
MK Dons Line-Up: Cumming, Oyegoke (77' Lawrence), Tucker, O'Hora, Jules, Harvie, McEachran (70' Johnson), Robson (59' Devoy), Smith, Grant (59' Barry), Grigg (70' Kayode)
