Izale McLeod grabbed the winner as Milton Keynes Dons registered their first away league win of the season at the expense of high flying Colchester united.
The Essex hosts had played some dazzling football to win at Bournemouth the previous weekend but they could not repeat the performance on a day when they were second best to the Dons.
In fact, McLeod could have bagged a hat-trick as he teased the Colchester defence all day.
His stick force partner Allan Smart had squandered a great chance to break the deadlock in the first half, McLeod committed both Colchester centre halves Wayne Brown and Liam Chilvers inside the box before the ball broke to Smart. The 30-year-old looked certain to score, but he snatched at the shot and the ball ballooned wide.
However, the Dons did take the lead into the dressing room at half time when McLeod lashed home from close range in the third minute of stoppage time.
Ben Chorley nodded on a cross and there was a unmarked McLeod to smash home the loose ball from inside the six yard box.
Colchester's best chance fell to Gareth Williams, and that arrived very early on in the game when he was denied twice at point blank range by keeper Scott Bevan who had a marvellous afternoon, If anything, Colchester faded even more in the second and McLeod could have added to his tally.
McLeod was thwarted by keeper Aidan Davison and he also missed the target from a couple of one on one situations after beating home skipper Wayne Brown for pace.
However, McLeod's loan strike which was his fourth goal of the season proved enough to bag the points, Craig Fagan, with five goals to his name this season came closest to an equalizer when he volleyed inches wide in the second half following a cross from Joe Keith.