A sweeping attack moments later saw Kyle Boyce latch onto a ball in behind. Forced wide by the advancing keeper, Boyce managed to pick out James Meadows in the box. Meadows spun and laid it off to Shrieves, whose goal-bound effort was bravely blocked by a defender. The rebound fell kindly for Spence, but his curling effort lacked power and was easily caught.

The breakthrough finally came in the 29th minute. A perfectly weighted cross from Gareth Hunt found Jordan Wright at the back post, and the defender rose high to head the ball into the net from close range, giving Irish the lead. Just minutes later, Shrieves came agonizingly close to doubling the advantage. Cutting in from the right, his powerful strike took a slight deflection, looping over the keeper but clipping the crossbar and going over.

Boyce then had a couple of opportunities, first dragging a shot wide and then delivering a dangerous ball across the face of goal that narrowly evaded Meadows at the back post. Boyce and Shrieves combined again shortly after, with Shrieves spinning in the box and firing at goal, but his shot was straight at the keeper.

HALF-TIME: MK Irish 1-0 Potton United

The second half started much like the first, with Irish pressing high and pushing for another goal. Shrieves drove in from the right, beating two defenders with ease before unleashing a shot that the keeper managed to stop.

Despite Irish’s dominance, Potton found an equalizer against the run of play in the 57th minute. Winning the ball on halfway, a Potton midfielder released their forward with a perfectly timed pass. Beating the offside trap, the forward bore down on goal and calmly slotted the ball past Ladyman to level the score at 1-1.

Irish responded positively, continuing to control possession and press forward in search of a second goal. Spence tested the keeper with a deflected strike from outside the area, but it was well saved. The breakthrough came again in the 75th minute. A free-kick from the right was swung into the box, creating chaos in the area. The ball eventually fell to Jordan Wright, who superbly struck a volley into the bottom corner for his second goal of the match and a vital lead for Irish.

The game was put beyond doubt in the 88th minute with a moment of magic. Ryan Smith played an inch-perfect pass out wide to Nathaniel Beecher, who whipped in a sublime cross. James Meadows, with his back to goal, chested the ball into the air before executing a spectacular bicycle kick that flew into the top corner—a certain contender for goal of the season and a fitting way to wrap up Irish’s home fixtures for the year.

Irish nearly added a fourth in stoppage time, with Kelvin Osei-Addo seeing his powerful effort brilliantly stopped by the Potton goalkeeper.

FULL-TIME: MK Irish 3-1 Potton United

Goalscorers: Wright (29’, 75′), Meadows (88’)

Man of the Match: Ryan Smith