MK Irish continued their strong start to the season with a solid 2-0 win over step 4 side Welwyn Garden City in the FA Cup extra-preliminary round.
The game got off to a bright start for Irish, with an early chance in the 15th minute as George Shrieves cut back to Ryan Smith, who looked certain to score, but a superb save from the Welwyn keeper kept the match level.
Just a minute later, Irish took the lead. A blocked shot from Hirst cannoned back off him, looping into the air, and Mason Spence rose highest to head the ball across goal and into the net, making it 1-0. Unfortunately, Hirst had to be forced off with a facial injury right after the goal.
Irish doubled their lead in the 20th minute when Shrieves timed his run perfectly, Shepherd with virtually his first touch played a superb ball in behind. Shrieves took a great touch, and curled the ball past the keeper to make it 2-0.
Welwyn had their first big chance in the 25th minute, but the forward’s effort was high and wide. Despite some pressure towards the end of the first half, with Welwyn taking shots from range, they failed to test Ladyman in the Irish goal.
Just before the break, Shrieves found himself in behind the defense again, but his shot from a tight angle went just wide.
HALF TIME: MK Irish 2-0 Welwyn Garden City
The start of the second half saw Welwyn control a lot of the ball but still struggled to test Ladyman in the Irish net.
Welwyn almost pulled one back just before the hour mark, a corner played short and whipped into the box, after a bit of pinball in the box the ball fell to a Welwyn player who struck it on the half volley but put it well over the bar.
Irish continue to break well and create chances, with a couple of long-range efforts from Hunt and Brito in the 65th and 66th minutes, respectively, both going close.t.
Welwyn’s best opportunity of the second half came from a free-kick flicked on, the Welwyn player managed to side-foot a volley toward goal, but it rolled just wide of the post.
In the 75th minute, Ryan Smith came agonizingly close to adding a third goal, meeting a cross from Shrieves, but his effort came back off the post and was cleared.
Following that chance Irish managed the game well, controlling the ball in the closing stages to secure a 2-0 win and advance to the next round of the FA Cup.
FULL TIME: MK Irish 2-0 Welwyn Garden City
Goalscorers: Mason Spence, George Shrieves
Man of the Match: Jack Whitehead
MK Irish will face Concord Rangers away in the next round of the FA Cup on the 17th of August.
