Grays Athletic 2-1 Milton Keynes Irish

Milton Keynes Irish were knocked out of the FA Trophy in the first qualifying round with a 2-1 defeat away to fellow Step 4 club, Grays Athletic. 

Fresh from their first league win of the season against AFC Dunstable, MK Irish came into this match full of confidence, exchanging chances with Grays Athletic in the early stages. 

The first chance of the match fell to the home side when winger Jayden Silcott-Brown cut inside Ryan Kelsey from the right hand side before striking a powerful curler over the crossbar. 

The Irish had their first shot on goal shortly after, when Ryan Smith played a forward pass to Owen Brooks, who skipped past his marker with ease, however, George Marsh got down low to deny the forward his second goal in as many games. 

Tom Ladyman was forced into action for the first time in the 8th minute, where the young keeper rapidly stretched out a leg to deny Harry Hope from 12 yards and keep the sides on level terms. 

With the game equally poised, Owen Brooks’ close control dribbling was awarded with a free kick, and Ryan Kelsey’s expert cross was met by an onrushing Matthew Haworth, who couldn’t direct his powerful header underneath the crossbar. 

The Isthmian North side went on to dominate the proceedings in the first half without forcing Tom Ladyman into any difficult saves but it would be the 2005 and 2006 FA Trophy winners who would take the lead just before halftime. 

Ladyman was unable to intercept a dangerous low cross into his box and Matt Haworth’s lunging tackle on Silcott Brown from six yards gave the referee no choice but to award a penalty to Darren Manning’s side. 

Callum Fitzer would have thought his penalty would prove enough to see his side take a halftime lead, but Clinton Zawe’s expert square ball was swept into the net by an unmarked Owen Brooks from close range to score a historical first goal in the FA Trophy for MK Irish just before the break. 

The second half followed a similar pattern to the first and Harry Hope was denied the opportunity to give his side the lead when his long-range curler stung the gloves of the diving MK Irish keeper. 

Silcott Brown was a real contender for player of the match in this fixture and he would have added a goal to his tally if it wasn’t for an excellent goalline clearance from Rev Kalek after his deft chip had already flown over Ladyman. 

The away side were still threatening on the break and a battling Mason Spence managed to play a through ball into Brooks but the pressure from the Grays defenders proved too much and his weak strike was gathered with ease. 

The Grays Athletic pressure finally reaped its rewards when Harry Hope got on the end of a driven low cross, nipping in front of his defender before redirecting the ball past Ladyman from close range.

Milton Keynes Irish looked for another rapid leveller straight away and Harry Guess was unlucky to see his goalbound strike blocked as it looked destined to nestle past George Marsh into the bottom corner. 

There was still time for Tom Ladyman to orchestrate his superb goalkeeping ability, when he managed to claw a close-range header over his crossbar with catlike reflexes and made amends for a miskicked volley which allowed the Grays striker a one-on-one situation. 

Knowing that a draw would have taken the sides to penalties, MK Irish came forward with one final half-chance when Ryan Kelsey’s pinpoint cross was whipped into substitute JJ Meadows but his glancing header went agonisingly wide of George Marsh’s net.

A late flurry of long balls were played into the box for MK Irish but the resistant Grays Athletic defence held firm to give the side a 2-1 lead and put them into the hat for the next round of the FA Trophy. 

Milton Keynes Irish will be back to league action next Saturday on the 13th of September when they welcome Ware to Manor Fields in the Southern League Division One Central. 

Terry Shrieves will be hoping his team can push on from their positive result against AFC Dunstable and climb further away from the relegation places to try and cement their place in Step 4 next season.