There was a tiny hint of controversy soon after when Kelsey burst down the left and was clearly tripped on the edge of the area, tumbling into the box. A small shout of a penalty from some Irish players and fans, the referee however deemed the foul had occurred just outside. From the resulting free kick, Spence tried to sneak one in at the near post, but it was clawed away by the keeper and a defender.

The breakthrough came on 32 minutes—Spence retrieving the ball from a corner and lofting it back towards the far post. A Winslow defender stretching to clear ended up smashing it into his own keeper and the ball bounced in, despite a desperate attempt to punch it away. Spence was credited with the goal, though there was a hint of fortune about it.

Just before the break, Ladyman turned creator with a booming free kick upfield. Mason Spence flicked it on to Ryan Smith who showed great strength to hold off his marker before squaring to substitute Stephen Brooks, who tucked home from close range to make it 2-0.

Irish almost made it three moments later, a sharp passing move ending with Ryan Smith striking from range, only for a deflection to take it narrowly past the post.

Half Time: MK Irish 2–0 Winslow United

The second half started in similar fashion to the first—Irish in control, dictating play and probing for openings. Spence almost grabbed a third, meeting a headed clearance with a volley from the edge of the box, but the keeper got across brilliantly to save.

On 70 minutes, the tie was surely sealed. Winslow, struggling with the intense press from Irish gave the ball away. Ryan Smith received it and picked out Meadows with a beautiful lofted ball down the right, and the forward did the rest—beating his man with a feint, cutting back inside and curling a lovely finish into the far corner.

That goal sparked Winslow’s best spell of the game. Their wide man cut in from the right and tested Ladyman at his near post, but the Irish stopper was equal to it. However, with four minutes to go, they repeated the move and this time the low strike snuck past Ladyman to make it 3-1.

Brooks almost had his second late on after a quick break—Spence crossing to Osei-Addo who couldn’t quite get there, but the loose ball fell for Brooks, whose venomous strike forced another top save from the Winslow keeper.

There was time for one final bit of drama—Spence drove at the heart of the defence in stoppage time and was tripped on the edge of the box as he burst through. Already on a booking, the Winslow defender was shown a second yellow and marched off. From the resulting free kick, Kelsey curled it over the wall, only for it to clip the top of the bar and go out.

Seconds later, the whistle blew—Irish through to the Premier Division Cup Final.

Full Time: MK Irish 3–1 Winslow United

Goals: Spence (32′), S. Brooks (44′), Meadows (70′)
MOTM: Ryan Smith