Leighton Town 1-0 MK Irish

Milton Keynes Irish were subject to a narrow 1-0 loss at Leighton Town after Sydney Ibie’s late winner made it four losses from four in the Southern League Division Central.

A much improved MK Irish side held out for a solid 84 minutes before Ibie bundled through two defenders and fired his effort into the roof of the net past Tom Ladyman.

Owen Brooks started the game brightly for the away side when he burst past three defenders, and his cross was eventually cleared to Ben Shepherd, who dragged a shot wide from 18 yards.

Leighton Town were relentless from the start, and it took Mason Spence’s header off the line to stop the home side from taking an early lead.

It was MK Irish who would have the next chance when Kelvin Osei-Addo found himself one-on-one against Daniel Hosier, who saw his shot bounce agonisingly off the inside of the post.

Sydney Ibie was awarded player of the match for his performance today, and his persistent desire to score was not clouded by his close-range miss in the first half.

He was later thwarted by Ladyman’s trailing leg, and the young player of the season got up quickly to make an amazing save from point-blank range to keep the sides on level terms.

Irish looked much improved from their 4-1 loss against Aylesbury United last weekend, and their intricate passes in the final 3rd were making Paul Reed’s side sweat at the end of the half.

Spence would have the final half-chance in the first 45 minutes, but the former MK Dons player couldn’t redirect his header towards goal from Ryan Smith’s corner.

The second half followed a similar pattern to the first, and Ladyman expertly pushed Ibie’s bouncing effort back over his own crossbar.

Leighton Town had an amazing chance to open the deadlock when Charlie Pattison headed a free kick across goal towards Ben Farrell, who was inches away from making that vital touch.

Another chance went begging when Tolu Ikuyinminu had his cross pushed out of the reach of the Leighton Town attackers, and you could sense a level of nervousness starting to creep in around the Freed Veneers Community Stadium.

Ryan Smith’s work rate late into the second half earned him a corner from pressing high up the pitch, and Hosier made a real mess of the resulting corner; however, the goalkeeper was able to recover from dropping the cross inside his six-yard box.

MK Irish had another amazing chance to take the lead when Mason Spence played a perfect through ball in behind the Leighton Town defence, which Owen Brooks sprinted onto, and it took a clever save to deny the attacker from a tight angle.

Leighton Town finally made their pressure count and continued their winning streak in the league when Sydney Ibie bounced through two challenges from Kalek and Haworth before smashing a powerful drive at Ladyman’s near post.

MK Irish didn’t allow their heads to drop, and Mason Spence nearly grabbed an equaliser when his long-range strike was flapped at by Hosier, who was relieved to see his efforts send the ball over his own crossbar.

Although they pushed for an equaliser, it was Ibie who would have the final chance of the match and the home support was certain his deft side-footed strike was nestling in the bottom corner before bobbling just past it.

Terry Shrieves deemed that his side “performed well today” and remarked on the quality of his side, who have struggled as of late, but a much-improved MK Irish side will take pride in their performance against Leighton Town on Bank Holiday Monday.

Terry Shrieves’ side will travel to AFC Dunstable for their second away trip of the season on Saturday, where they will look to grab their first points of the season.