MK Irish 1-2 AVDFC

Team: Dan McAteer; Luke Nugent, Alex Mitchell, Paolo Bagatti, Terry Griffiths; Dave Brown, Alfi Touceda, Callum Shortt, Jake Baldwin; Brian Haule, Chris Stapleton

Subs: Joe Chott, Montel Brown, Roy Byron, Gabby Adelowo, Josh Edworthy

The Dynamos were looking to make it 5 out of 5 as they travelled to a wet and cold MK Irish Club in Milton Keynes. Steve Bateman was forced into making a few changes bringing back Paolo Bagatti into the heart of the defence and giving a debut to Alex Mitchell who had been playing well for U18’s and Development team of late. Also, Luke Nugent and Brian Haule were into the starting 11.

The pitch was wet and sticky as the rain came down and the first few minutes both teams struggled to gain control of the ball. A ball through the middle from Dave Brown found Chris Stapleton on goal but was called offside. Alfi Touceda then played a similar ball, this time to Callum Shortt, but his shot was palmed wide for a corner. Jake Baldwin swing the corner in and both Chris Stapleton and Alfi Touceda had shots blocked.

At the other end Irish played a ball over the top and Dan McAteer was alert enough to race out and clear before the attacker made connection. Jake Baldwin won a corner on 13 minutes and he swung the ball in onto the head of Terry Griffiths who headed over from close range. The next 10 minutes saw Irish looking to open the scoring. The first chance on the Irish left was thwarted by Alex Mitchell who made a decent tackle, wining the ball and passing out to Dave Brown. Moments later Irish were sent through on a breakaway and their attacker was clean through but again, Alex Mitchell came steaming over and made a fantastic tackle in the box, clearing for a corner.

23 minutes and the best chance so far, Alfi Touceda found himself with the keeper to beat but his shot was well saved. The ball came out to Callum Shortt and he smashed a shot goalbound which was blocked by a defender as Dynamos somehow didn’t score. A few minutes later and Callum Shortt collected a ball from Brian Haule and raced through, his shot was saved again and Chris Stapleton’s follow up was blocked.
Dynamos had a couple more chances in the first half. First up, Chris Stapleton had a great run, rounded the keeper, but hit his shot into the side netting. Just before half time, Brian Haule and Alfi Touceda combined and set up Jake Baldwin but his shot was straight at the keeper and he made a comfortable save.

Half time: 0-0

The first action of the second half saw Dynamos take the lead. Alfi Touceda was fouled just inside the Irish half and Dave Brown stepped up and floated the ball into the box. Brian Haule got a flick on and Chris Stapelton was at the back post to put the ball past the keeper. 0-1 Dynamos. Within 5 minutes Irish had levelled the match as Dynamos failed to clear a cross and they stabbed the ball past Dan McAteer. 1-1. 64 minutes in and Alfi Touceda takes a free kick into the feet of Callum Shortt and he spun round hitting a low shot wide of the mark. With 20 minutes to go Luke Nugent played the ball through to Callum Shortt and he beat his man and chipped the ball into the box where Alfi Touceda had ran through, he controlled superbly and smashed the ball past the keeper to make it 1-2 Dynamos.

A couple of minutes later Jake Baldwin gave away a free kick 25 yards out from the Dynamos goal. The Irish player hit a decent free kick low into the near corner but Dan McAteer scrambled the ball away for a corner. 77 minutes and Irish were pushing for an equaliser and Dave Brown crunched into a tackle picking up a yellow card. 10 minutes left and Dan McAteer played a trademark long ball over the top to Jake Baldwin who just failed to connect and he looked dead on his legs. 83 minutes and Joe Chott was introduced replacing Callum Shortt on the right wing. Both teams failed to create any clear cut chances in the remaining minutes and Dynamos ran out winners again….that’s 5 !!!!!