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A Week In Review: 2 Wins From 2 for Irlam FC

A Week In Review: 2 Wins From 2 for Irlam FC

IRLAM FC28 Feb 2016 - 18:37
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Icely Finishing Clicks Irlam Into Gear

The past week saw Irlam FC put themselves right back into the mix at the top of North West Counties Division 1; Victories at home to Ashton Town and away at Widnes saw the Silver Street side take 6 points from 6 at a crucial stage of the season.

Irlam FC 3-1 Ashton Town

Tuesday night saw Ashton Town travel to Irlam, with both sides level on points in the league table before the fixture. The first half was a frantic affair with some brilliant football played by both sides. Irlam’s Jordan Icely was looking back to his best on the night and would go on to cause all sorts of problems throughout the game.

Irlam’s best chances were fashioned through the hard work of forward Christian Lawlor, the frontman rolling his marker on more than one occasion to fire dangerous balls across the box, Irlam’s Matty Boland coming close to connecting only to be thwarted by some good Ashton defending.

Ashton’s Sam Wilkie and Neil Weaver were proving tricky to deal with, their inventiveness almost creating a couple of openings for the visitors and keeping centre halves Braithwaite and Kpohgomou on their toes. However, after a furious 45 minutes, both sides went into the half time break with the scores locked at 0-0.

The second half was less than 10 minutes old when the deadlock was broken, Icely picking up a loose ball 25 yards out, before moving forward and striking a dipping shot over the goalkeeper and into the top corner to make it 1-0 to Irlam.

The lead would not last long however. Some lovely skill down the left side saw Ashton get to the byline before pulling the ball back, the resulting cross was flicked home by the skipper Wilkie and the scores were level.

Irlam regrouped and began pushing forward once more. Rick Peters found himself advanced down the left hand side and moving into the final third when he was met with a mistimed challenge from the Ashton full back, a second yellow card would be awarded for the player and Irlam now sensed the game was there.

The 70th minute saw Irlam take the lead, some great football saw Icely chop the ball across the box to Lawlor who controlled and set the oncoming Morrison, the Irlam midfielder stroking the ball home to find the bottom corner and put Irlam 2-1 to the good.

The pressure remained and just 5 minutes later it was to be 3-1. A miskicked clearance from an Ashton defender saw the ball loop up towards the back post where it was met with real power by Kpohgomou, the centre half driving his header downwards into the bottom corner.

Ashton never gave up and still looked to threaten on the break; whereas Lawlor had the last real chance of the game as the goalkeeper saved from point blank range. The action was up at that point and Irlam collected the points before looking ahead to the trip to Widnes.

Irlam FC: White, Lomas, Peters, Morrison, Braithwaite, Kpohgomou, Southworth (Wolden), Burgess, Lawlor, Boland, Icely (Perry).

Not used: Mills, Russell, Illidge.

Widnes FC 1-2 Irlam FC

High on confidence after the midweek result, Irlam produced a scintillating first half performance which would eventually be enough to win them the game.

After just 2 minutes, a long ball from goalkeeper Lee White saw the ball run through to Icely, the forward lifting a delightful shot over the goalkeeper to make it 1-0 and get the away side off to a flying start. Icely and Jordan Southworth would continue to threaten throughout the half, their pace and directness troubling the Widnes backline at every opportunity.

Liam Morrison and Dean Burgess were now enjoying a degree of control in the middle of the park, moving the ball around nicely and keeping the pressure firmly on the home side, who looked to break on the counter attack.

Missed opportunities made it look like 1-0 would be all that Irlam could get from the first 45 minutes, before Matty Boland struck on the 40 minute mark. An inswinging ball into the box saw the ball break loose for Boland who struck home, his quicker left foot half-volley finding the bottom corner.

The second half saw Widnes come out reinvigorated and the home side slowly gathered momentum throughout the half. Irlam’s Boland had chances to kill the game, his chances blocked and saved respectively as Widnes kept themselves in the game.

On 70 minutes the game would turn, a midfield runner found himself in on the Irlam goal, his touch took him round White but slightly wide of goal, White brought the player down - a clear penalty and a yellow card for the Irlam goalkeeper. A confidently struck penalty followed and the score was now 2-1.

Widnes continued to pile forward, every ball forward seemingly causing problems and landing at home players' feet. With less than 10 minutes remaining Widnes would be awarded another penalty, a trip in the box giving the referee no option.

The same player stepped up and struck powerfully towards the bottom corner, however the shot would be matched by a superb diving save from White in the Irlam goal. Just minutes later it was White to the rescue again, a 1 on 1 save keeping Irlam just about in front - a real top class display of shot stopping from Irlam’s number 1.

Irlam managed to see out the last few minutes to record a crucial win on the road and move themselves into a good position in the table as we enter the final couple of months of the season.

Irlam FC: White, Lomas, Peters, Morrison, Braithwaite (Mills), Kpohgomou, Southworth (Eyres), Burgess, Lawlor, Boland, Icely.

Not used: Russell, Mooney, Wolden.

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