Mark Lillis signed-off his stint as caretaker-manager with a morale-boosting win that gives the long-suffering County faithful hope that new boss Chris Turner can instigate the Great Escape in the New Year.
The former Sheffield Wednesday chief had barely taken his seat in the Directors Box when Jon Daly gave the Hatters the lead.
David Martin in the Dons goal dropped Warren Feeney's looping ball into the box and Daly scrambled the ball over the line. The 'keeper appealed for a foul by the big Irishman but referee Penn allowed the goal to stand.
County were playing with a great deal of passion and they almost doubled their lead on 6 minutes. John Hardiker burst past a couple of defenders but hit his left-foot effort wide of the post.
Neil Cutler was a virtual spectator but he was forced into action just before the half hour when he kept out Alan Smart's shot on the turn.
County doubled their advantage 4 minutes before the break when Mark Robertson's shot rebounded off a defender to Daly. The striker's first touch was good and his shot then took a wicked deflection of Steve Palmer to wrong foot Martin.
Minutes later it should have been 3-0. Rickie Lambert danced through the MK defence but missed the target when clean through on goal.
The visitors forced County back after the break without really testing Cutler.
But, with County looking comfortable, the alarm bells started ringing when the backed off Alex Tapp and the substitute beat Cutler with a low shot just inside his left-hand post with 13 minutes remaining.
The two-goal advantage was restored 4 minutes from time, though, when the outstanding Ashley Williams intercepted the ball on the half-way line, burst forward and his a screamer past Martin from the edge of the box.
The Cheadle End immediately burst into song. "There's only one Mark Lillis," they chanted in recognition of the County performance, which the recipient gladly responded.
County (4-4-1-1): Cutler; Hardiker, A Williams, Griffin, Adams; Bridge-Wilkinson, Robertson, Goodwin, Feeney (Mair 90); Lambert (Barlow 75); Daly (Raynes 90).
Unused Subs: C Williams, Jackman.
Yellow Cards: Robertson 38, Hardiker 78.
MK Dons: Martin; Lewington, Chorley, Smart, Smith, Edds, Herve (Tapp 51), Palmer, Rizzo (Mackie 51), McLeod, Mitchell
Unused Subs: Williams, Oyedele, Baker
Yellow Cards: Chorley 81, Smart 89.
