Terry Shrieves’ side got back to winning ways after surviving a spirited second half comeback from Crawley Green to claim a 2-1 win at Manor Fields.
George Shrieves opened the scoring for his side early on, cutting inside from the right flank and beating two defenders before firing in at the near post.
Robbie Macdonald doubled the lead, grabbing the eventual winner around ten minutes before half time after intercepting a loose pass and cooly converting into the bottom corner when one on one.
The first chance of the game almost saw an unbelievable opener from visitors Crawley Green.
A ball in from the right hand side was aimed at the back post, finding Crawley’s left winger who had found space in the box, however the cross was slightly behind him. Some brilliant improvisation followed as the attacked fired a scissor kick towards goal which cannoned down off the bar onto the line.
Irish responded in the best possible way after so nearly going behind, by breaking the deadlock after just seven minutes.
Collecting the ball out wide on the right was Shrieves, who cut inside and beat two men with clever feet before reversing towards the near post which beat the keeper as he made it 1-0.
Shrieves was continuously getting into dangerous positions in the first 20 minutes and could’ve added to his early goal on a couple of occasions, seeing a one on one saved before firing a close range shot over.
Full back Keelan Shand should’ve been on the scoresheet after half an hour, pouncing on a mistake from Crawley’s keeper who dropped a cross and touching the loose ball home.
However, after consulting with his assistant referee, the man in the middle disallowed the goal.
It was all Irish now and after 35 minutes the lead was finally doubled. Robbie Macdonald intercepted a loose pass from a Crawley Green defender and drove on towards goal, finishing well across the keeper.
The home side had a huge shout for a penalty right at the end of the half, which would have all but sealed the win, however as seen often so far this season it was waved away by the referee.
As the second half kicked off, a previously struggling Crawley Green side came out fighting and made a game of it.
Irish’s best moment of the half came right at the start, after some clever interplay around the opposition area saw Shrieves find space before he appeared to be apprehended as he knocked it past the final man. No penalty, again.
MK Irish had Owusu Kyeremateng to thank for an inspired second half performance, made even more impressive by how quiet a first half he had.
After the pressure from the visitors had been growing, Crawley eventually started carving out real chances and it was Owusu who was there to stop, making two top class saves from one on ones to preserve his teams two goal advantage.
The Irish goal was breached as full time approached, as they converted from close range following a cross in from the right hand side.
