Biggleswade Town 0-0 MK Irish

Difficult conditions played their part from the outset, with a swirling wind making control in the air a challenge for both sides. Biggleswade started brightly and threatened early on the break. On 13 minutes they worked the ball into the Irish area and forced Ladyman into a save at close range. The rebound fell kindly for the hosts, but Kalek reacted superbly to produce a heroic block and divert the ball behind for a corner.

Irish responded well and began to settle into the contest. Spence delivered a dangerous cross from the right on 16 minutes and when a defender mistimed his header, Brooks met the ball on the volley from close range, only for the keeper to block it with his body.

As the half progressed Irish began to grow in confidence and looked dangerous when breaking forward. On 32 minutes Hirst was wiped out off the ball during a quick Irish counter, but play was waved on. Moments later Shrieves was taken out on the edge of the area with no free kick given, and Ryan Smith curled an effort from the edge that drifted narrowly wide.

Biggleswade were shown a yellow card on 35 minutes when their number eleven threw Zawe to the floor as Irish continued to apply pressure. Hirst then came close just before the interval, producing a superb driving run into the area before seeing his effort blocked at the crucial moment.

At the other end, Biggleswade continued to threaten from deliveries into the box, but Ladyman dealt well with headers and crosses, while Irish’s back line held firm as the sides went into the break level.

Half Time: Biggleswade Town 0–0 MK Irish

Irish carried their momentum into the second half and continued to ask questions of the home defence. On 54 minutes Hirst slipped the ball into Shrieves, who beat two defenders before taking a slightly heavy final touch that allowed Biggleswade to recover and clear.

Shrieves went even closer four minutes later, timing his run perfectly to beat the offside trap and bringing the ball down well, only to be denied by an outstanding sliding tackle from the Biggleswade centre half just as he looked certain to score.

From the resulting corner Irish thought they had taken the lead. Kalek rose to head the ball into the net, but the referee had blown his whistle just before the delivery for a foul in the area, a decision that caused frustration among the Irish players and travelling support.

Biggleswade continued to threaten sporadically and on 69 minutes delivered a good ball in from the left, but the resulting header was directed straight at Ladyman. Irish remained the more purposeful side and continued to press, with Shrieves and Hirst both involved in promising attacking moves.

Irish came agonisingly close to snatching a late winner on 86 minutes when Coleman met a corner with a firm header, only for a combination of the post and the keeper to deny him.

Despite both sides pushing in the closing stages, neither could find the breakthrough and the match ended goalless.

Full Time: Biggleswade Town 0–0 MK Irish

Man of the Match: Ollie Coleman

Irish showed discipline and organisation throughout and created the better chances on the night. While a disallowed goal and several key moments denied them all three points, it was still another positive result on the road against a side pushing for the play-offs, and a valuable point in a demanding run of fixtures.