MK Irish’s remarkable unbeaten run came to an end on a challenging Tuesday night away to Tring Athletic, suffering a 4-2 defeat in testing conditions. Having gone 20 games without loss, Irish were the last remaining undefeated side across England’s top 10 divisions, but their streak was halted by an inspired Tring performance.
ring entered the game in high spirits, coming off back-to-back home wins, including a victory over second-placed Cockfosters.
The opening 20 minutes were closely contested, with both sides creating opportunities, though the more dangerous chances fell to the hosts.
Tring finally broke the deadlock in the 35th minute when a well-struck curling free-kick evaded Tom Ladyman and found its way into the net. Irish found it difficult to generate clear-cut chances on a difficult pitch and went into the break trailing.
HALF TIME: Tring Athletic 1-0 MK Irish
Irish came out stronger in the second half, determined to get back into the contest. Their pressure nearly paid off early on, as Rev Kalek forced a superb save from the Tring goalkeeper following a corner. The leveller finally came on 62 minutes when George Shrieves picked up the ball on the right, cut inside past a defender, and fired a low shot into the bottom corner to bring Irish level.
However, the joy was short-lived. Just two minutes later, Tring regained the lead in bizarre fashion. A corner delivery saw Ladyman attempt to claim the ball, but an unfortunate fumble resulted in the ball ending up in the net.
Things got even worse for Irish on 68 minutes as Tring extended their lead. Another curling free-kick from the edge of the area found the top corner, an even better strike than the first, leaving Ladyman with no chance.
Despite controlling possession for long spells, Irish struggled to break down a well-organized Tring defence. The visitors were unable to create the clear-cut opportunities needed to mount a comeback.
Tring sealed the victory in the 87th minute with a fast counter-attacking goal. Breaking down the left, the forward cut inside and curled a sublime effort into the top corner, putting the game beyond reach.
Irish did manage a consolation goal in stoppage time. Osei-Addo and Spence combined well in the area before the latter squared the ball across goal for Ollie Coleman to tap in from close range.
The final whistle soon followed, confirming a well-earned win for Tring and bringing an end to Irish’s incredible unbeaten streak.
FULL-TIME: Tring Athletic 4-2 MK Irish
Goalscorers: G. Shrieves (62′), O. Coleman (90+2′)
