The North Bucks Premier League title race is going right down to the wire this season. Following on from Stewkley's defeat of Great Horwood at the weekend, it had become a two-horse race between Stewkley and last season's champions MK United. Consequently, a Tuesday evening clash between the top two was way too good to miss.
The situation, before the start of play, looked like this:
The situation, before the start of play, looked like this:
Team |
Played |
Won |
Drawn |
Lost |
GD |
Pts |
Stewkley |
19 |
16 |
1 |
2 |
34 |
49 |
MK United |
20 |
15 |
2 |
3 |
36 |
47 |
Stewkley clearly had the upper hand, having a two point lead and three games to play as opposed to MK's two games remaining. That made this evening's clash even more pertinent. A Stewkley win would see them crowned campions with two games to spare. A defeat would see MK go top and, effectively, mean that Stewkley would need to win their last two games to be sure of the title. A draw would leave Stewkley requiring one win from their remaining two.
The reverse fixture, played in October, had ended in a narrow 2-1 victory for Stewkley, despite United taking an early lead through Dom Lawless. Patrick Okolie levelled before the break, before Tom McKenna hit the winner just past the hour.
Prior to this clash, BotP was lucky enough to be present a games involving both clubs. In early April we were at the Recreation Ground to see Stewkley grind out a 1-0 victory over Twyford United (Three Points Closer). Ten days later, a visit to a wet an very gloomy Middleton Pavilion, was lit up by a thoroughly entertaining 3-3 draw between MK and AFC Carpathians (Wolves Put United In A Stew).
The reverse fixture, played in October, had ended in a narrow 2-1 victory for Stewkley, despite United taking an early lead through Dom Lawless. Patrick Okolie levelled before the break, before Tom McKenna hit the winner just past the hour.
Prior to this clash, BotP was lucky enough to be present a games involving both clubs. In early April we were at the Recreation Ground to see Stewkley grind out a 1-0 victory over Twyford United (Three Points Closer). Ten days later, a visit to a wet an very gloomy Middleton Pavilion, was lit up by a thoroughly entertaining 3-3 draw between MK and AFC Carpathians (Wolves Put United In A Stew).
Okolie about to open the scoring Stewkley started the game like a team on a mission, pressing MK back early on and gaining reward as early as the 4th minute when a free-kick, way out on the right, was delivered to the far post. Patrick Okolie, Stewkley's big number 9, rose highest to plant a firm header beyond Aaron Hali. 0-1
Seemingly not content with a single goal lead, the visitors continued to press forward and, a few minutes later, went close to getting a second when Tom Carter fired just over.
It was a very strong start from Stewkley, but credit to MK who rode out the initial storm and began to find a foothold in the game. A 13th minute ball into the right side of the box, saw Luke Little turn and cross, but the Stewkley defence had got back well to cover and thwart the attack. Soon afterwards MK won their first corner and then, on 18 minutes, a lofted pass bypassed the defence allowing Little to attempt to lift the ball over Will Essex. The goalkeeper got the better of this encounter. Straight up the other end, Okolie charged down an attempted clearance from Halai, only for the United stopper to recover quickly and drop on the loose ball.
Despite that chance for Okolie, the tide was noticeably turning and Essex was called into action again after 24 minutes, diving full length to push Jordan Spruce's low 30-yard free-kick around the post.
There was nothing that the Stewkley keeper could do two minutes later though. Joe Sames sent over a cross that just evade the head of Little but bypassed Essex to find Nathan Chapman, arriving at the far post to nod home. 1-1
Increasingly, Stewkley were finding it hard to get out of their own half. If anyone was going to get a second goal, it was going to be the home side.
They almost did just that on 36 minutes, when Sames found Little who held off a challenge before firing goalward from inside the box. However, Wil Essex produced an incredible reflex save to push the ball over the bar and keep the scores level. Stewkley retaliated with what was becoming an increasingly rare event, a break of their own. Sam Waldrum did well up the left flank before sending over a low ball t the near post where Okolie met it, only for Hali to get down well to save.
That left Sean Barker, on 44 minutes, to loo to have the final say of the half. He won the ball on halfway, took two strides, saw Essex off his line and hit an audacious lob from 40 yards, somewhat unfortunate to see the ball beat both keeper and the crossbar.
HT MK United 1 Stewkley 1. A very strong start from Stewkley. However, MK got their act together, rallied well and were arguably the better team for much of the half.
Seemingly not content with a single goal lead, the visitors continued to press forward and, a few minutes later, went close to getting a second when Tom Carter fired just over.
It was a very strong start from Stewkley, but credit to MK who rode out the initial storm and began to find a foothold in the game. A 13th minute ball into the right side of the box, saw Luke Little turn and cross, but the Stewkley defence had got back well to cover and thwart the attack. Soon afterwards MK won their first corner and then, on 18 minutes, a lofted pass bypassed the defence allowing Little to attempt to lift the ball over Will Essex. The goalkeeper got the better of this encounter. Straight up the other end, Okolie charged down an attempted clearance from Halai, only for the United stopper to recover quickly and drop on the loose ball.
Despite that chance for Okolie, the tide was noticeably turning and Essex was called into action again after 24 minutes, diving full length to push Jordan Spruce's low 30-yard free-kick around the post.
There was nothing that the Stewkley keeper could do two minutes later though. Joe Sames sent over a cross that just evade the head of Little but bypassed Essex to find Nathan Chapman, arriving at the far post to nod home. 1-1
Increasingly, Stewkley were finding it hard to get out of their own half. If anyone was going to get a second goal, it was going to be the home side.
They almost did just that on 36 minutes, when Sames found Little who held off a challenge before firing goalward from inside the box. However, Wil Essex produced an incredible reflex save to push the ball over the bar and keep the scores level. Stewkley retaliated with what was becoming an increasingly rare event, a break of their own. Sam Waldrum did well up the left flank before sending over a low ball t the near post where Okolie met it, only for Hali to get down well to save.
That left Sean Barker, on 44 minutes, to loo to have the final say of the half. He won the ball on halfway, took two strides, saw Essex off his line and hit an audacious lob from 40 yards, somewhat unfortunate to see the ball beat both keeper and the crossbar.
HT MK United 1 Stewkley 1. A very strong start from Stewkley. However, MK got their act together, rallied well and were arguably the better team for much of the half.
MK pushed hard for the equaliser The momentum that MK had picked up in the first half continued at the start of the second. Only two minutes had passed when Luke Little applied the finishing touch to a ball across the box to make it 2-1.
Stewkley's chances of securing the title this evening were beginning to fade, but they tried to respond to going behind. Okolie stretched to get a tow to a flicked on cross, but the ball arrived too quickly for him to control the effort, sending it over the bar. Then, just past the hour Rory Scrivener curled a right-wing corner in, seeing the ball ping back off the bar, possibly with a little help from the fingertips of Aaron Halai. Stewkley were close gain on 69 minutes when Tom Carter, out on the left, cut back onto his right foot before sending over a cross that evaded everyone, dropping narrowly wide of the far post.
The game was no holds barred now. Tackles flew in from both sides, as Stewkley's search for an equaliser grew more urgent and MK's resolve to defend their lead increased. MK, unsurprisingly, were using every tactic possible to slow the game down and prevent Stewkley from building up a head of steam. Every 50/50 saw a home player go down and their physio suddenly became the busiest person on the park, although referee Stuart Hilton did as much as he could to keep the game going, much to the disgust of the home bench at times.
MK's focus was now on defence, but they were holding firm even as we entered into added time. Four minutes past the ninety came a moment that could have been a little controversial. A Stewkley cross from the left clearly took a nick on its way out of play but the referee signalled for a goal-kick, much to the ire of the visitors. However, a signal from the assistant on that side of the pitch, albeit at the opposite end, sent the referee back for a discussion. Clearly the assistant had also seen the slight deflection. The referee changed his decision to corner. Of course, this decision was not popular with the home team. Nothing came of the initial corner, but the ball was cleared away for a corner on the opposite flank. When that came in, Jamie Hardings threw himself at the ball, which crashed against Halai's crossbar and bounced clear. A fitting final piece of action for a game that provided plenty of entertainment.
FT MK United 2 Stewkley 1. A hard-earned but deserved three points for MK United. The result keeps the title race open for a little longer, with United now leading the table by a point. On Saturday MK travel to Wing Village for their final league game, whilst Stewkley entertain a Milton Keynes City side already resigned to finishing in the drop zone. MK have already beaten Wing 5-1 in the league and 7-0 in the cup, this season. Stewkley won 3-2 at City in October. Assuming both teams win on Saturday, that would leave Stewkley a point adrift as they face Willen at home on Saturday 17th May. As it stands, MK have the better goal difference, so Stewkley may well require a victory in their final game. They lost 2-0 at Willen earlier in the season.
Whatever happens, it's certainly going to be an exciting and tense end to the season.
MK United: Halai, Sem, Barker, Sames(c), Chapman, Betchley, Spruce, Lothian, Little, Parker, Lawless. Subs: Crossley, Cardwell, Amoroso, Ward, Daubney
Stewkley: Essex, Whittemore, Scrivener, Budgen(c), Iannelli, Wagner, McKenna, Hardings, Okolie, Waldrum, Carter. Subs: Roadknight, Kirchin, Reeves, Alligan, Cristofoli
Stewkley's chances of securing the title this evening were beginning to fade, but they tried to respond to going behind. Okolie stretched to get a tow to a flicked on cross, but the ball arrived too quickly for him to control the effort, sending it over the bar. Then, just past the hour Rory Scrivener curled a right-wing corner in, seeing the ball ping back off the bar, possibly with a little help from the fingertips of Aaron Halai. Stewkley were close gain on 69 minutes when Tom Carter, out on the left, cut back onto his right foot before sending over a cross that evaded everyone, dropping narrowly wide of the far post.
The game was no holds barred now. Tackles flew in from both sides, as Stewkley's search for an equaliser grew more urgent and MK's resolve to defend their lead increased. MK, unsurprisingly, were using every tactic possible to slow the game down and prevent Stewkley from building up a head of steam. Every 50/50 saw a home player go down and their physio suddenly became the busiest person on the park, although referee Stuart Hilton did as much as he could to keep the game going, much to the disgust of the home bench at times.
MK's focus was now on defence, but they were holding firm even as we entered into added time. Four minutes past the ninety came a moment that could have been a little controversial. A Stewkley cross from the left clearly took a nick on its way out of play but the referee signalled for a goal-kick, much to the ire of the visitors. However, a signal from the assistant on that side of the pitch, albeit at the opposite end, sent the referee back for a discussion. Clearly the assistant had also seen the slight deflection. The referee changed his decision to corner. Of course, this decision was not popular with the home team. Nothing came of the initial corner, but the ball was cleared away for a corner on the opposite flank. When that came in, Jamie Hardings threw himself at the ball, which crashed against Halai's crossbar and bounced clear. A fitting final piece of action for a game that provided plenty of entertainment.
FT MK United 2 Stewkley 1. A hard-earned but deserved three points for MK United. The result keeps the title race open for a little longer, with United now leading the table by a point. On Saturday MK travel to Wing Village for their final league game, whilst Stewkley entertain a Milton Keynes City side already resigned to finishing in the drop zone. MK have already beaten Wing 5-1 in the league and 7-0 in the cup, this season. Stewkley won 3-2 at City in October. Assuming both teams win on Saturday, that would leave Stewkley a point adrift as they face Willen at home on Saturday 17th May. As it stands, MK have the better goal difference, so Stewkley may well require a victory in their final game. They lost 2-0 at Willen earlier in the season.
Whatever happens, it's certainly going to be an exciting and tense end to the season.
MK United: Halai, Sem, Barker, Sames(c), Chapman, Betchley, Spruce, Lothian, Little, Parker, Lawless. Subs: Crossley, Cardwell, Amoroso, Ward, Daubney
Stewkley: Essex, Whittemore, Scrivener, Budgen(c), Iannelli, Wagner, McKenna, Hardings, Okolie, Waldrum, Carter. Subs: Roadknight, Kirchin, Reeves, Alligan, Cristofoli
Team |
Played |
Won |
Drawn |
Lost |
GD |
Pts |
MK United |
21 |
16 |
2 |
3 |
37 |
50 |
Stewkley |
20 |
16 |
1 |
3 |
33 |
49 |
MK pressing
The Ground
This was my second MK United home game inside a month, but also the second different location, having seen them play at Middleton Pavilion earlier. This game was played at the Sir Herbert Leon Academy, a comprehensive school in Bletchley, just to the South of Milton Keynes. The school grounds also incorporate the Leon Leisure Centre, which boasts a gym, indoor swimming and sports pitches. Today's game was being played on one of the grass pitches furthest away from the school buildings. There's ample parking at the leisure centre as well as toilets and a cafe (although I only saw the sign for this). You have to pass through the leisure centre entrance to get through to the sports pitches. The playing surface looked to be reasonably good and flat. Of course, there are no covered areas for spectators.
Ground Number: 450
Att:
Entrance: N/A
Programme: N/A
This was my second MK United home game inside a month, but also the second different location, having seen them play at Middleton Pavilion earlier. This game was played at the Sir Herbert Leon Academy, a comprehensive school in Bletchley, just to the South of Milton Keynes. The school grounds also incorporate the Leon Leisure Centre, which boasts a gym, indoor swimming and sports pitches. Today's game was being played on one of the grass pitches furthest away from the school buildings. There's ample parking at the leisure centre as well as toilets and a cafe (although I only saw the sign for this). You have to pass through the leisure centre entrance to get through to the sports pitches. The playing surface looked to be reasonably good and flat. Of course, there are no covered areas for spectators.
Ground Number: 450
Att:
Entrance: N/A
Programme: N/A
Stewkley threw everything at MK in the closing stages
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