Match Report: Dunstable Town U18’s 2-4 MK Irish U18’s

Photo: Finn Watt is congratulated by Owen Russell.

Report and photos by James Smith.

The U18’s went into the final league game of the season hoping for a win to force a playoff as Bedford Town were three points ahead of the Blues having played all their games. MK Irish needed to win the game to have any chance of doing the same, if they could also beat Leighton Town in their final game next week.

Town were still missing some key players but Eimantas Brindza was able to make the bench after a long term injury.

The visitors started the game well and took the lead in the 9th minute with a goal that looked offside as the MK Irish player ran through to score past the helpless Mikey Dobbs in the Dunstable goal.

Nine minutes later it was nearly 2-0 but Dobbs made a fine save. Town reacted with Luis Ribeiro-Nso and Owen Russell going close.

MK Irish doubled their lead in the 32nd minute with a free header from a corner.

Just before half time the visitors were reduced to ten men when Jaden Fraser was on the end of a reckless challenge.

Dunstable pulled a goal back on 63 minutes when great work from Isaac Babalola led to Finn Watt scoring from six yards.

Photo: Isaac Babalola cuts the ball back to Finn Watt.

Eight minutes later they thought they had levelled but Ribeiro-Nso was ruled offside. Soon after Alfie Young’s in-swinging corner came back off the bar.

In the 79th minute MK Irish extended their lead again after Dobbs made another good save but the follow up was sent into the net.

Dunstable responded, two minutes later Ribeiro-Nso headed home to give his team belief but the game became fiery and controversial.

Photo: Luis Ribeiro-Nso scored the second goal.

Tom Chambers and Watt were shown yellow cards before an MK Irish player went through on goal and was fouled by Jones but play carried on with the referee playing advantage. The striker got a clean shot away, which Dobbs saved but the official pulled play back, despite giving the advantage, to give a penalty and send off Jones.

In his protests Tyrelle Joseph was sin-binned leading to Dunstable having to play out the remaining minutes with nine players.

The penalty was converted, which sealed the game for MK Irish.

Some of the players have now completed their time with the team with Alfie Young making 45 appearances in all, plus making ten first team appearances over the last two seasons.

Mikey Dobbs made 40 appearances for the U18’s and also made one appearance for the first team during the 2024-25 season.

Owen Russell, who is still eligible for the U18’s next season, has made 30 appearances so far for the team across two seasons and ended this season as top scorer with 15 goals. He has also made twelve first team appearances this season.