Rayners Lane 0-2 MK Irish

MK Irish continued their good form with a composed 2–0 victory away at Rayners Lane. Irish delivered a controlled performance and created the better chances throughout the afternoon.

Irish nearly took the lead inside seven minutes when Ryan Smith fired low from the edge of the area, sending his effort just wide of the post. Two minutes later Smith pressed high, winning the ball on the edge of the Rayners Lane box. Meadows picked it up in the area, rolled past a defender and saw his near post strike saved by the keeper.

Brooks then lined up a shot from distance on 11 minutes but his effort lacked power and bobbled through to the goalkeeper. The pressure continued as Smith came close again on 16 minutes, his header cleared off the line as Irish dominated the opening stages.

Rayners Lane struggled to put any attacks together and their first sight of goal was a tame effort from range that went well wide. Irish threatened again on 23 minutes when Shrieves drilled the ball across the face of goal but no one was able to get a decisive touch.

Meadows then fired over from distance on 35 minutes before Irish finally found the breakthrough on 38 minutes. Smith slipped a perfect pass through to Shrieves, who drove in one on one and finished calmly past the keeper to give Irish a deserved lead.

Rayners Lane ended the half with their best chance, firing over from a corner in added time, but Irish went into the break ahead.

Half Time: Rayners Lane 0-1 MK Irish

Rayners Lane showed more intent after the restart and created their first meaningful effort on 53 minutes, testing Ladyman with a strike from range that he held well. Irish responded by trying to regain control of the midfield but the hosts continued to push, and Ladyman was called into action again on 66 minutes, saving sharply at his near post after a well-worked move down the right.

Despite the increased pressure, Irish still carried a threat on the break. On 69 minutes Spence drove forward and drilled a dangerous ball across goal, with Brooks racing in but agonisingly just inches away from getting a decisive touch to double the lead.

The hosts then came closest to levelling the match with two big chances in quick succession. First, a free kick on 74 minutes was struck powerfully and cannoned off the bar, leaving Ladyman rooted. Three minutes later they hit the post from another dangerous attack, as Irish were forced to weather a difficult spell.

Irish looked to relieve the pressure and came within inches of restoring their two-goal cushion. Brooks latched onto a ball in behind and lifted it over the keeper, only to see it fall the wrong side of the post. Moments later he had another chance, firing low towards the near corner but the keeper produced a strong save to turn it behind.

The visitors kept pushing to kill the game off and Shrieves almost added his second on 80 minutes when the ball sat up for him on the edge of the box. His half volley was struck well, but the keeper made an excellent diving save to push it away.

Irish finally secured the points in the 87th minute. Boyce blocked a long ball and it dropped kindly for Shrieves near the halfway line. He carried it through on goal, sent the keeper the wrong way and rolled his finish into the near corner to score his second and seal the win.

Full Time: Rayners Lane 0–2 MK Irish

Shrieves (38, 87)

Man of the Match

Nathan Smith

Irish delivered a confident performance and managed the key moments well, especially during Rayners Lane’s strong spell in the second half. Shrieves’ composed finishing at both ends of the match proved decisive as Irish continued their positive form.