Northwood FC 2-3 MK Irish

MK Irish returned to action on the road against Northwood and were forced to dig deep after falling two goals behind. A late rally in the final stages saw Irish complete an impressive turnaround to take the points.

An early move from the hosts saw the ball worked into the right side of the box, but Clinton Zawe was well positioned to block the resulting effort. At the other end, Ryan Smith picked out Shrieves on the left edge of the area, though his controlled effort lacked power and was blocked.

Northwood continued to threaten. A strike from 16 yards forced Tom Ladyman into a save, while Mason Spence responded by clipping a ball over the top for Owen Brooks, who got deep inside the box before the home keeper reacted sharply to claim at his feet.

The home side were building momentum. A low effort drifted just wide of the far post and Shrieves saw a curling attempt from the edge take a heavy deflection that carried through safely to the goalkeeper.

Northwood took the lead on 18 minutes. A move down the flank ended with a deflected ball dropping inside the six-yard box beyond the far post, where the forward reacted quickest to smash high into the net from a tight angle.

Irish tried to find a response before the interval. Freddy Joyce delivered a cross that was kept alive by Hirst, but the goalkeeper dived bravely at the feet of Shrieves to prevent a clear sight of goal. Northwood nearly doubled their advantage when a one-two on the edge of the area opened space for a low delivery into the box, only for the resulting volley to crash against the post.

Rev Kalek was forced off through injury late in the half, with Nat Beecher introduced in a straight replacement, and Northwood deservedly led at the break.

Half Time: Northwood 1–0 MK Irish

Irish emerged with greater intent in the second half. Ryan Smith tried his luck from 25 yards, while Brooks beat his defender inside the right of the box and lifted a cross that slipped through the goalkeeper’s gloves on the line, though not far enough to count.

Despite the improved start, Northwood struck again on 51 minutes. A long ball forward was won in the air and helped on to a forward just outside the box. He drove into the area, weaved past defenders and placed a composed finish across Ladyman into the far corner.

Spence responded with a volley from distance that was blocked, and Shrieves dribbled into the area but was unable to properly test the keeper. Ryan Smith then forced the Northwood keeper into a diving save from 25 yards as Irish pushed for a breakthrough.

On 76 minutes Irish reduced the deficit with a well-worked move. Marsh-Brown’s persistence kept the attack alive and recycling possession before Meadows fed Zawe. His low cross was met by Shrieves at the near post to make it 2–1.

Irish struck again just two minutes later. A poor clearance deep inside the box was seized upon by Ryan Smith, who fed Shrieves. He stepped inside his marker and rolled a calm finish into the net to make it 2–2.

The turnaround was completed on 81 minutes. Shrieves’ initial cross-shot was blocked, but when the ball fell kindly inside the area he showed composure to place a low strike into the far corner and complete a remarkable five-minute hat-trick.

Northwood attempted to respond with deliveries into the box late on, including a dangerous cross from the right that evaded everyone, but Irish held firm. Ladyman was alert in stoppage time, getting down well to claim the ball ahead of an attacker and secure the points.

Full Time: Northwood 2–3 MK Irish

Goalscorers

Shrieves (76, 78, 81)

Irish showed character and belief to recover from two goals down, turning the game around in dramatic fashion with a clinical late spell to claim an important three points on the road.