Irlam FC won their first ever NWCFL Premier Division fixture on Tuesday night; a fantastic 2-1 victory away at highly-rated Bootle ensuring 3 points came back to the Ambitek Stadium.

After the disappointment of the weekend’s FA Cup defeat in Rotherham, the players and staff regrouped to bounce back in splendid fashion. After a cagey opening period in which both sides battled well, it was Irlam who broke the deadlock. A Bootle corner was swiftly cleared to Christian Lawlor, the frontman clipping it into the path of Isaac Illidge who managed to play the ball forward. Alert as always, Jordan Icely ran across his defender to pick up the ball first and slot home from the tightest of angles to make it 1-0; a great finish from the in-form Irlam forward.

Despite the elation, Irlam were immediately on the back foot. Lee White was immediately forced into a smart low stop before Bootle found their way through only a minute later. The home side nicked the ball 30 yards from goal before picking the right pass at the right moment, Halligan going through into the box to leave White with no chance in the Irlam goal, the scores now level at 1-1.

With the score remaining the same until the half-time break, both sides returned for the 2nd half with real belief they could win the fixture.

With less than 10 minutes gone in the half, Irlam would strike first. Lovely interplay between Rick Peters and Liam Morrison on the left side saw Morrison burst past 2 Bootle players and whip a ball across the box. With work to do and Gareth Mooney typically bursting forward in support, Lawlor managed to stretch and direct his header back over the goalkeeper and into the far corner; a very impressive goal to make it 2-1 to the visitors.

As expected, Bootle were a threat throughout. The movement of Cox in particular keeping Irlam’s defence on their toes, with Alex Barlow and Steven Mills particularly impressive in the centre of defence. In front of them, the work of Illidge and Burgess in midfield was drawing credit from all in attendance.

Irlam continued to grow in the game and should have put the game out of sight; superb running from Illidge saw him burst 50 yards before checking back and being brought down just as he was about to pull the trigger, the referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot. Dean Canning stepped up having replaced Lawlor just minutes earlier, but the keeper was equal to both his initial strike and the rebound - the frustration written all over the face of the Irlam forward.

The final 20 minutes were end to end, Jay Fowles showing a great engine to both defend and then drive Irlam forward in this period - his combinations with Mooney growing as the game went on. As the game came to a close, Irlam’s hung on and the 2-1 result felt fully justified in the changing rooms afterwards. The lads now look forward to Padiham at home on Saturday (3pm KO - Ambitek Stadium, Silver Street, Irlam).

Irlam FC: White, Fowles, Peters, Morrison, Mills (c), Barlow, Mooney, Burgess, Lawlor (Canning), Illidge, Icely.

Unused subs: Holt, Eyres, Boland, Main.