MK Irish 1-1 Slimbridge (3-4 on penalties)

MK Irish were held to a goalless draw by Biggleswade Town at Manor Fields, in a game that offered few clear-cut chances for either side.

The visitors had the first real sight of goal on 27 minutes, breaking down the right before cutting the ball back to a Biggleswade forward inside the area. He got underneath his effort, though, and the ball drifted well over the bar. Irish’s best moment of the half arrived on 40 minutes at the other end, when a low, hard effort was fired across goal, only for Ladyman to produce a superb stop to keep things level. Beyond that there was little to separate the sides, and the teams went in at the break with the game still goalless.

Half Time: MK Irish 0-0 Biggleswade Town

Irish started the second half brightly and should have taken the lead within a minute of the restart. Meadows found Boyce on the right, who hurdled a challenge inside the area before cutting the ball back to Amaning. His first effort was blocked on the line, and the follow up flew over the bar.

Boyce made way for MacDonald just after the hour mark as Irish looked to find a breakthrough, with Joyce and Hawkins also making way for one another shortly after. Biggleswade had their say on 69 minutes, curling an effort from just outside the box that drifted narrowly over. Irish responded straight away through a neat move down the right, Meadows holding the ball up before rolling it to Hirst, who spread play out to Zawe. The full back chested the ball down and fired at goal, but a smart save kept the score level.

Beecher was replaced by Brooks on 75 minutes, and Irish had another good opportunity moments later when MacDonald did well down the left and picked out a dangerous ball into the box. The Biggleswade defence managed to head clear only as far as the edge of the area, where Hirst took a touch and volleyed over.

There was a flashpoint on 80 minutes when the Biggleswade number five, already on a yellow card, dragged Meadows down but escaped with only a talking to from the referee. He was substituted immediately afterwards. Irish’s afternoon was disrupted shortly after when Hawkins picked up a knock and was forced off, with Nevin coming on in his place. Amaning was the final change of the afternoon, making way for Smyth in stoppage time.

Neither side could find the breakthrough they were looking for, and the game ended goalless, with a share of the points a fair reflection of a contest low on clear chances.

Full Time: MK Irish 0-0 Biggleswade Town