MK Irish 2-0 Barton Rovers

Milton Keynes Irish secured their first home win of the season in the Southern League Division One Central against Barton Rovers, courtesy of goals from Ryan Smith and Owen Brooks. 

MK Irish started the game well off the back of a disappointing away loss to Beaconsfield Town and they could have gone ahead after two minutes when Kyle Boyce played a square ball across to George Shrieves, who just couldn’t make contact inside the six yard box.

Barton Rovers came into this game unbeaten in the current league campaign and their first chance fell to Marcus Gouldbourne on the edge of the box, but the winger could only direct his shot high and wide of Tom Ladyman’s goal. 

George Shrieves had another chance blocked before the ball eventually fell to Stephen Brooks in the box, but the defender saw his shot comfortably saved by Ben Heath.

Barton Rovers were holding strong but their defensive resistance was broken when Ryan Smith found space 30 yards from goal before smashing a screamer into the top corner, giving Ben Heath absolutely no chance. 

Mason Spence found his way back in his preferred attacking position and he would have found himself on the scoresheet but Heath did well to get down quickly and get a strong hand to his effort. 

Chris Robson must have not liked what he saw in the first half as he started the second half with a triple substitution to try and get something from the game and this decision almost handed his side an equaliser but Rawn Seale’s header went wide from about 10 yards out. 

Terry Shrieves’ squad doubled their advantage after 53 minutes when Spence played a long ball forwards for George Shrieves to run onto, picking out Owen Brooks in space, who had time to take a touch and fire a curler past Ben Heath, sending the whole team into raptures. 

Harry Guess put in a very assured performance, and his ball in behind found Owen Brooks, who did well to find George and his near post strike was pushed away for a corner by Heath. 

As much as Barton Rovers tried to push, Ladyman didn’t really have any big saves to make and their latest effort fell to Albie Hall, who fired his shot high and wide. 

MK Irish managed to record their first clean sheet of the season and Nat Beecher was instrumental in this effort with an expert last-ditch tackle on Hall, who was bearing down on goal.

Gouldbourne hit the post from range before Stephen Brooks fired a header against his own crossbar in a rather nervy last 20 minutes. 

Barton Rovers continued to press but the counterattacking style of MK Irish made them look dangerous on the break and Owen Brooks still had time to flash an effort towards goal, which went narrowly wide. 

Milton Keynes Irish held on for a historic first home league win in Step 4 and they will be hoping they can push on with this result and push further away from the relegation zone with a win away at Hertford Town this Saturday.