MK Irish 0-2 Arlesey Town FC Match Report

Milton Keynes Irish were knocked out of the FA Cup on Saturday when they lost 2-0 to a dominant Arlesey Town side. 

The Step 5 side dominated large periods of the match, creating numerous chances and fully exploiting their fast forwards with long direct football, causing countless problems for the MK Irish backline. 

Arlesey Town thought they had taken the lead after two minutes when their striker Joe Sellars-West fired an excellent scissor kick past Tom Ladyman, only for the linesman to rule it out for offside. 

Nathaniel Beecher cleared an effort off the line from Taylor Keeley, and it would be a sign of things to come when the winger sent a dangerous cross into the box, which looped agonizingly off the head of Irish midfielder Ryan Smith, to give the away side a deserved lead.

Jamie Fulton and Ezra Forde saw efforts go marginally wide in the closing stages of the half, but it was the home side who would create the last chance of the half when JJ Meadows placed a header wide of Ollie Skinner’s goal. 

The struggling Step 4 side improved in the second half, and it took an amazing flying save from Skinner to deny substitute Ryan Kelsey’s powerful long-range strike.

Chances proved to be very far and few between for the home side, who struggled with the physicality of the resolute Arlesey backline, and Ryan Smith’s wayward strike didn’t help matters, with time running out in the second half. 

Mason Spence earned himself a free kick with twenty minutes remaining, and it took a strong punch from Skinner to keep his strong effort from finding the back of the net. 

As the game progressed, MK Irish threw more bodies forward, which created gaps for Arlesey to exploit at the back, and Tom Ladyman did well to deny Jordan Brown in a one-on-one situation as the striker bore down on goal 

Arlesey did eventually get their second goal when Sellars-West played the ball down the line to their top scorer, Brown, who raced past Beecher and rounded the keeper to double his side’s lead. 

Despite having some late chances through the likes of Kelsey, Spence, and Kelvin Ossei-Addo, Arlesey Town will progress into the FA Cup First Round Qualifying draw with a 2-0 win. 

Milton Keynes Irish will try and bounce back in the league, searching for their elusive win in the Southern League Division One Central, when they welcome Aylesbury United to Manor Fields next Saturday.

Terry Shrieves will be desperate for his side to turn their fortunes around soon, and you can watch it live at Manor Fields next weekend with a 3pm kickoff.