MK Irish 0-1 AVDFC

Team: George Zammit; Jake Baldwin, Luke Nugent, Jack Aldridge, Paolo Bagatti; Gayle Muyonge, Jamie Fulton, Joe Chott, Davide Pobbe; Ollie Lawford, Ivan Otono

Subs: Terry Griffiths, Alfi Touceda, Chris Stapleton, Callum Shortt, Dave Brown

With the disappointing defeat 2 days ago, next up for the Dynamos was a Premier Cup match away at MK Irish…hoping this would be a welcome distraction from the recent poor League form.
Steve Bateman rang the changes with only Ollie Lawford surviving the Tuesday match, making 10 changes to the starting line-up.
In the very first minute MK Irish attacked down the Dynamos right side, but their shot/cross only hit the side netting.
However, Dynamos went up the other end and Ivan Otono collected a pass from Jamie Fulton and raced through on goal, only to be upended, winning a penalty. Ollie Lawford, searching for his first goal for Dynamos, stepped up and coolly slotted it home. 0-1 Dynamos.
Dynamos were looking threatening and on 10 minutes Ollie Lawford played Joe Chott down the right and his cross was met by Davide Pobbe with a header which sailed just over the bar.
22 minutes in and both teams had settled, MK Irish were attacking and a good opportunity was well dealt with by Jack Aldridge as he protects the ball, winning a goal kick.
With the half hour mark approaching MK Irish had their best chance of the half but some superb defending by Captain, Luke Nugent, saw him block a shot and George Zammit claimed the loose ball.
Jake Baldwin, operating at left back, then hit a lovely long ball, picking out Ivan Otono. He controlled it and created some space, hitting his shot just over the bar. Moments later Davide Pobbe was the creator as his ball over the top landed at the feet of Ollie Lawford who hit a great shot at the keeper, but the offside flag was raised.
35 minutes and Jamie Fulton who had had an impressive start, controlled the ball brilliantly and played a superb ball to the back post where Davide Pobbe headed on target, but the keeper saved well.
George Zammit had a fairly quiet half but was called into action as a long ball made its way through, he raced off his line saved, but was clattered by the MK Irish forward. He was ok to carry on after some treatment.
It was a frantic end to the half with Jake Baldwin being booked for timewasting. Then Jamie Fulton with some more skills, bamboozling the opposition, sent a ball over to Davide Pobbe. He challenged for the ball, but the referee saw something no one else did (story of the match) and gave him a yellow card.
Half Time – MK Irish 0-1 AVDFC
Steve Bateman made 2 changes at halftime, introducing Alfi Touceda and Terry Griffiths for Gayle Muyonge and Luke Nugent.
Five minutes played and Alfi Touceda was in the action with a lovely cross field ball which was just too long for Jake Baldwin and the keeper collected.
55 minutes and Jamie Fulton dives into a tackle…slightly late, but certainly not “reckless”, however the referee decided to send him off, much to the surprise of all fans and players. Very strange decision, but nonetheless, Dynamos were down to 10 men.
60 minutes and MK Irish were pushing forward. They broke the offside trap and their nippy winger was in on goal. George Zammit closed the angle and got a big hand to the shot, stopping the ball and grabbing it as well. A save out of the top drawer and a standing ovation from both sets of fans.
With just over 20 minutes to go, Dynamos were reduced to 9 men. Terry Griffiths took a player down who was through on goal, and getting an inevitable red card for it. No complaints (this time).
The resulting free kick was badly missed by MK Irish.
On 70 minutes Dynamos did manage a brief foray forward and a long range effort from Alfi Touceda went just wide of the mark. However, it was going to be 20 minutes of backs against the wall defending needed.
Jack Aldridge and Paolo Bagatti both had great games and were now being called upon to clear anything that came their way…and they did just that. Joe Chott was now at right back, Ollie Lawford at left back and Jake Baldwin operating as a 3rd centre back.
Chris Stapleton came on for Ivan Otono, to give the MK Irish defence something to think about as he set off to run 100mph for every ball that went up pitch from Dynamos.
Alfi Touceda was then booked for kicking the ball away, as Dynamos tried to slow the MK Irish attack down.
87 minutes and Dynamos were hanging on. Ollie Lawford was called upon to defend and was more than equal to his player, winning a tackle and winning a free kick for some respite for the tired Dynamos team.
90 minutes and a superb last ditch diving header clearance from Paolo Bagatti was the last real action of the game and Dynamos held on for a battling victory, and into the hat for the next round.