MK Irish vs Aylesbury United

Milton Keynes Irish were subject to a disappointing 4-1 loss to Aylesbury United in their search for their first point in the Southern League Division One Central. 

MK Irish started positively in the opening exchanges, patiently keeping possession before firing long balls to their wingers in positive positions. 

Ben Shepherd would create the first chance of the game when he chested down a clearance from the Aylesbury United defender, but his long-range volley was comfortably caught by Jack Hopwood. 

Aylesbury United employed a counterattacking system throughout the match, and this would cripple Terry Shrieves’ side, who couldn’t keep up with the pace of their attacking opponents. 

The away side took the lead when Brandon Green’s cross found Remel Larwood, who expertly held off his defender before firing a powerful scissor kick into the top right corner, leaving Tom Ladyman no chance. 

Milton Keynes Irish had the perfect opportunity to equalise when Kelvin Ossei-Addo was felled in the penalty area, and Dave Tuttle’s men could have no complaints when the referee pointed straight to the spot. 

Ossei-Addo picked himself up and took on the responsibility to get his side an equaliser, and he did so brilliantly when he sent the keeper the wrong way before dispatching the ball to his left to get his side onto level terms.

Milton Keynes Irish had a chance to take the lead when Owen Brooks worked well down the left to find Ryan Smith, but the midfielder swung his volley high and wide of the mark. 

Ryan Smith was denied an amazing assist minutes later, when his looped cross was headed goalwards by Ossei-Addo, who had his bouncing header expertly cleared off the line by the Aylesbury defender. 

Aylesbury United stayed vigilant and resolute in defence and pounced on an MK Irish loose ball before flying forward at great speed to retake the lead after 37 minutes. 

Jed Layman expertly brought the ball forward, dancing past Irish defenders before finding an unmarked Sonny French, who had time to take a touch before firing low past Ladyman to grab his first goal of the season against the run of play. 

Larwood nearly gave his side a two-goal cushion before the break when he muscled off three defenders before firing a shot into the side netting from a difficult angle.

The home side were left stunned and with a mountain to climb when Hayden Beadle’s first-time strike from 25 yards smashed in off the post straight after the restart.

MK Irish couldn’t create any clear-cut chances in the second half, and the away side seemed more than happy to play the game at their own pace, who looked threatening every time they came forward. 

Tom Ladyman would spare Kalek’s blushes after the defender’s heavy touch in midfield was pounced on by Larwood, but the attacker had his shot blocked with a smart save. 

Clinton Zawe and Shepherd went agonizingly close to connecting with clever crosses by Owen Brooks, who used his dribbling prowess to get by his defenders, but neither of them could get that vital touch. 

Substitute Kyle Boyce looked dangerous when he came on for the Irish, and his looped cross was met by the head of Dean Dummett, but the attacker couldn’t direct his effort underneath the crossbar, and Mani Gbejuade also had an impact off the bench when his long-range effort went wide of the mark. 

The away side would add a fourth goal to their tally in the 93rd minute, when Beadle broke forward from an MK Irish freekick and he played a square ball across to the debutant, Rocko Tamplin, who really couldn’t miss from six yards out.  

This win leaves Aylesbury United on four points in the league, whilst Terry Shrieves is still waiting for his side to pick up their first point in Step 4 football. 

They will try and change their fortunes when they travel to play Leighton Town in what is the club’s first away game of the Southern League Div One Central on Bank Holiday Monday.