MK Irish traveled to third-placed Arlesey Town and delivered a commanding performance, coming away from New Lamb Meadow with a 4-1 victory.
The game started brightly, with Arlesey threatening first. A wide free-kick to the back post was hooked back across the face of the goal but incredibly blazed over the bar from just six yards out.
Irish responded with their own opportunities. Beecher won the ball high up the pitch, feeding James Meadows, who worked it out to George Shrieves. His cutback found Mason Spence, but Spence’s effort was blocked, as was Ryan Smith’s follow-up from the edge of the area.
Arlesey had a rare chance on the break when their forward broke down the right and fired low at the near post, but Tom Ladyman reacted well to hold the shot.
Irish continued to press, and only a superb save from the Arlesey keeper kept the scoreline level. Beecher played a perfectly timed ball in behind to Spence, who squared to Boyce for what looked like a certain goal. However, the keeper somehow managed to get a touch and deny the forward.
The breakthrough came in the 17th minute. A long Ladyman goal kick was flicked on by Smith, and Spence then hooked it into Shrieves’ path. Shrieves drove into the box, beat a man, and fired low at goal. The keeper got a hand to it but couldn’t prevent it from finding the net.
Just nine minutes later, it was 2-0. Beecher delivered a dangerous cross into the box, which was knocked down to Meadows by an Arlesey defender. With composure, he controlled the ball and slotted it past the keeper at the near post.
Shrieves nearly added a third, capitalizing on a poor defensive header from Arlesey. He raced onto the loose ball and fired across the keeper, but the shot was tipped wide. Moments later, Shrieves came close again, this time firing just wide after a clever reverse pass from Ryan Smith set him up inside the area.
Irish found their third on 37 minutes. Picking up another loose pass in midfield, the ball was spread to Boyce on the left. His pinpoint cross was met by Spence on the volley, who guided it expertly into the bottom corner.
The visitors pressed for more before the break, with Spence seeing a long-range volley saved and then having another effort stopped after a cutback from Shrieves.
HALF TIME: Arlesey Town 0-3 MK Irish
The second half began with Irish maintaining their dominance. Shrieves lofted a cross into the box for Meadows, but his header was blocked by the Arlesey defense.
On 65 minutes, Irish added a fourth. Beecher intercepted a pass and played it forward to Shrieves, who exchanged a slick one-two with Spence. Shrieves then cut back past his defender and fired the ball into the net to claim his second goal of the game.
Shrieves had a golden opportunity to complete his hat-trick shortly after. Left upfield during an Arlesey free-kick, he spun his marker and raced through one-on-one. Despite sending the keeper the wrong way, the shot was miraculously saved by the keeper’s outstretched leg.
Arlesey managed to pull one back in the 71st minute. A well-worked move down the left resulted in a low cross that was tapped in from close range.
The game quieted down from there, with Irish content to manage their lead. The final chance came just before the whistle. Substitute Brito delivered a stunning cross-field ball to Meadows, who controlled it and played it into Osei-Addo. The forward cut past his defender and fired at goal, but the shot smashed off the keeper and was cleared, prompting the referee to blow for full-time.
FULL TIME: Arlesey Town 1-4 MK Irish
Goalscorers: G. Shrieves (17′, 65′), J. Meadows (26′), M. Spence (37′)
Man of the Match: J. Meadows
