MK Irish 5-0 AFC Dunstable

MK Irish produced a dominant display at Manor Fields as they ran out 5–0 winners against AFC Dunstable in Southern League Division One Central action.

Irish made a bright start and nearly opened the scoring early on when Ryan Smith picked out George Shrieves inside the area, but his effort was straight at the goalkeeper. The breakthrough arrived on seven minutes. Owen Brooks won a corner on the right and Ryan Smith delivered beyond the far post where Mason Spence met it on the volley and steered home from close range.

The visitors responded with a couple of corners of their own but Irish doubled their advantage on 12 minutes with a well worked team goal. Freddy Joyce found Shrieves inside the box on the left, he beat his man and drilled a low ball across goal where Brooks was on hand to finish from close range.

Irish continued to control proceedings. Shrieves forced a save from the right side of the box and moments later Ollie Coleman saw a strike from distance deflected wide. Spence also had an effort blocked from a corner routine as the pressure mounted.

AFC Dunstable created a few openings in the first half. A cross from the left travelled across the face of goal before a snapshot from inside the area went just wide. Another chance inside the box was poked narrowly past the post as Tom Ladyman came off his line, while a header from a lifted delivery also drifted wide. Despite those moments, Irish remained firmly on top.

The third goal arrived on 42 minutes following a quick break. Spence threaded a perfectly weighted through ball into Shrieves’ path and he rounded the advancing keeper before calmly rolling the ball into the empty net.

Half Time: MK Irish 3–0 AFC Dunstable

Shrieves went close early in the second half from a tight angle before the visitors fashioned a couple of half chances, including a curling effort that Ladyman gathered comfortably.

Irish extended their lead on 55 minutes. Shrieves cut inside from the left and split the defence with an incisive pass into Ryan Smith, who finished confidently across the goalkeeper and into the far corner.

Six minutes later the roles were reversed. Ryan Smith won possession outside the box and fed Shrieves on the right. His shot was touched by the keeper but could not be kept out as Irish made it five.

The home side continued to push forward. Marsh-Brown forced a diving save after combining neatly with Shrieves, Stephen Brooks saw a shot tipped over and JJ Meadows went close inside the area. Kelvin Osei-Addo also had an effort blocked as Irish searched for more.

AFC Dunstable had a late free kick deflected behind and fired wide from distance, but Irish managed the closing stages comfortably to secure a clean sheet and a comprehensive victory.

Full Time: MK Irish 5–0 AFC Dunstable

Goalscorers

Spence (7), Brooks (12), Shrieves (42, 61), R Smith (55)

Irish’s biggest win of the season moves them further up the table and extends their positive run, with three straight victories and four unbeaten heading into the next set of fixtures.