IRLAM FC

IRLAM FC progressed smoothly into the 2nd round of the NWCFL Divisional Cup at weekend, running out two nil winners at Current Cup holders Atherton Collieries Alder St Ground.
A difficult surface, caused by recent rain made the prospect of top quality football difficult, but both sides stuck to the task over the slippery surface, made worse by intermittent rain throughout the afternoon.
The home side got off to the worst possible start when a headed clearance out of the Atherton defence fell at the feet of Irlam forward Danny Butters, the Irlam no 10 firing the ball back in and past Atherton keeper Lee Novak before he had time to set himself.
Minutes later, a scramble in the home side’s goal area had the Irlam players appealing that the ball had crossed the goal line, only for their appeals to be waived away by the match official.
18 minutes in, and Atherton’s first chance of the game came via Left back Steve Madden, whose long range shot rose over Irlam’s goal and out of danger. Next up was Rothwell, whose attempt on the Irlam goal also ended up high and over keeper Brewer in the Irlam goal.
With large amounts of possession lost from both sides due to the poor surface, the play seemed more suited to long balls over the top, and with 42 minutes gone a cross field pass out wide saw Irlam Chris Palmer in behind the visitors defence, only for his cut back into the box go begging as Atherton cleared their lines. As half time approached it was Palmer again who found his way into the visitor’s penalty area, and an excellent turn to beat the oncoming defender saw the Irlam winger shoot from the narrowest of angles and miss when Irlam no 9 Gary Prescott would have scored into an open goal If Palmer had elected to pass.
The last action of the first period saw Irlam midfielder Darren Green elect to shoot from distance, only for his shot to go wide of the mark as the whistle signalled the end of the first half with Irlam’s one goal lead intact.
Atherton were first out of the blocks in the second half, and no 9 Gary Burnett was making life difficult for Irlam’s back four with his pace, Burnett constantly on the move around Irlam’s area. With control of the ball at a premium, Atherton’s high crosses into Irlam’s box were easily tidied up, with central pairing Steve Mills and Chris Hilton winning virtually every ball knocked into Irlam’s area.
A the other end, a ball into Irlam’s Dean Burgess found the Irlam midfielder in on goal, only for the slippery conditions to thwart him as the ball ran on and was cleared to safety. The home side came close to equalising when a cross in from the left from Paul Atherton found no 9 Burnett at the far post, only for the Atherton striker to squander a decent chance.
The first controversy of the game came in the 70th minute, when a long ball through the middle found Irlam forward Prescott with space to run into, only for his run to goal end in a clumsy challenge that looked like a possible denial of a goal scoring opportunity. To the Irlam supporter’s amazement, the match official waived away the appeal, not even giving a free kick. Prescott’s disappointment didn’t last long however, and a charged down ball from Dean Burgess saw the Irlam midfielder set off down the right wing, and a neat pass into Irlam’s Butters saw the deftest of touches into the feet of Prescott who rounded Novak in the Atherton goal for a tap in to make it 2-0 to Irlam.
As the game reached its conclusion, Irlam’s Chris Palmer pushed for a third, cutting in from the right before hitting a low drive that ricoched off the home sides far post and out to safety. Last chance of the game fell to Irlam winger Adam Pegg, whose late strike just over the home side’s goal signalled the end of the afternoon’s action. Irlam next opponents in the 2nd round will be Holker Old Boys in the New Year.
Elsewhere, Irlam’s reserve sides also had great success, with the Reserve side hitting Ashton Town Reserves for five, with a 5-1 victory at Silver St, and Irlam’s “A” team running out convincing 3-1 winners away at Northenden Vics FC in their League cup game.