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

Irish were the dominant side from the first whistle and should have been out of sight inside the opening quarter of an hour. Boyce found Meadows with a header at the back post inside the first minute, but the flag was up for offside. Moments later Nathan Smith sent a looping header towards goal that beat the visiting goalkeeper all ends up, only to crash back off the post.

The chances kept coming. Meadows curled an effort at goal that was well saved, with the loose ball falling to Brooks but from a tight angle, he couldn’t find the target. Shrieves then tested the keeper from range without success, before Slimbridge had their first sight of goal, breaking away before Farrell got across to block.

Irish continued to press. Boyce poked one back post effort agonisingly wide of the mark, then combined with Shrieves for a near-post flick that was well saved. Further half-chances fell to Meadows either side of the half-hour mark, but the breakthrough wouldn’t come. He was played through again on 42 minutes, stretching to meet a long ball forward and poking an effort goalwards, only to be denied once more by a visiting goalkeeper who was proving increasingly stubborn.

Then, right on the stroke of half time, Irish were left aggrieved as Slimbridge were awarded a penalty that few inside Manor Fields felt was deserved. Ladyman made no mistake, though, diving low to keep out the resulting spot-kick and send the sides in level at the break, despite the home side having been well on top throughout.

Half Time: MK Irish 0-0 Slimbridge

Irish began the second half in similar fashion, Meadows going close early on with a volley that carried heavy backspin and drifted just wide. Boyce made way for MacDonald on the hour as Irish looked to find a way through, and Meadows had another opportunity shortly after, seeing his effort from the edge of the box fly over.

Against the run of play, Slimbridge took the lead on 66 minutes. Irish reshuffled with three substitutions in quick succession. Haworth for Hawkins, Amaning for Hirst and Nevin for Shrieves as they searched for a response. MacDonald almost had an instant impact, seeing an effort cleared off the line after taking a deflection off a Slimbridge defender.

With time running out, Irish continued to push. MacDonald flashed another effort across goal with no one able to apply the finish, before the moment the home crowd had been waiting for arrived in the third minute of stoppage time. Farrell, showing remarkable composure and audacity, struck an effort from inside his own half that sailed beyond the stranded goalkeeper to level the scores. Amaning almost won it moments later, but his low effort was well saved.

Full Time (90 mins): MK Irish 1-1 Slimbridge

Extra time offered few clear openings as the game grew increasingly scrappy. Meadows broke clear early on but could only find the goalkeeper, while  Amaning and Nevin combined for a chance that was blocked on the line by a last-ditch challenge. Late efforts from Meadows and Amaning went close either side of the second period of extra time, but neither side could find a winner.

Extra Time Full Time: MK Irish 1-1 Slimbridge

The tie went to penalties, and it was Slimbridge who held their nerve, converting four of their six spot-kicks to Irish’s three and winning the shootout 4-3.

Goalscorer: Farrell (90+3)