Late goals from Karl Cassell and Gareth Mooney would prove to be enough to snatch a point back at the weekend after going down 2-0 early in the game against Cheadle Town in NWCFL Div One at Silver St.
The 2-2 draw moves the Silver St side up a place to 14th position in the table.
Early action in the game was shared between both sides, Irlam’s Connor Martin cutting inside before firing a promising shot that the Cheadle defence blocked, followed up by a decent free kick from Ryan Ledson that just went wide of the Cheadle goal.
Early disappointment for Irlam was the loss of forward Jordan Icely, a poor challenge into the back of the Irlam player that went unpunished, leading to an early exit from the game for Icely.
Cheadle responded at the other end with a decent chance for no8 Smallwood, firing wide from an assist from Cheadle winger Niall Cannon as the game awaited its first goal.
On 25 minutes, Icely’s replacement Christian Lawlor burst through the Cheadle defence to find the net, only to be denied by the assts flag
Despite a decent spell of possession for the home side, it was the visitors who were the first to strike, and when Cheadle full back James Dunne crossed into Irlam’s near post, Luke Hincks was first to react for Cheadle with the slightest of touches that spun over Irlam keeper Hamilton and into the goal to open the scoring.
Worse was to follow when five minutes later Cheadle were presented with the easiest of chances, Nial Cannon firing across the Irlam goal through a congested Irlam area, only for the ball to arrive at the feet of an unmarked Richard Wyatt at the far post, the Cheadle substitutes only task being to steer the ball into an empty net to make it 2-0.
Last chance of the half came Irlam’s way via full back Barry Lomas, the Irlam defender finding space outside the Cheadle area to fire a decent shot goalwards, but with the visitors back in numbers the shot would eventually deflect away to signal the end of the half.
Irlam emerged for the second half with a real task ahead of them, but the Silver St side certainly applied themselves to the job at hand, and as the game wore on the pressure started to build on the visitors.
Irlam no9 Connor Martin was certainly asking questions of a tiring Cheadle defence, the young forward forcing a decent save out of Piggot in the Cheadle goal, followed up soon after with a real chance that just flashed wide as the score remained 2-0 to the visitors.
An inswinging corner from Christopher was met by Illidge, the Irlam midfielder so close to getting the breakthrough, but the decent crowd at Silver St didn’t have much longer to wait for Irlam to open their account.
A cross into the Cheadle penalty area was met by keeper Piggot, but the decision to punch the ball away proved to be the wrong one, and when the ball landed at the feet of Cassell, the Irlam forward confidently fired a ferocious volley back in that found the net to give Irlam a route back into this game.
With the visitors looking vulnerable in defence, Irlam attacked again, and when Irlam no7 Gareth Mooney (pictured) spotted Piggot off his goal line, his looping, curling shot went over the Cheadle keeper and nestled in the top corner to draw the score level with one of the goals of the season so far at Silver St.
With minutes to go, and the supporters willing Irlam on, the last chance fell to Illidge, and when the ball came in from a cross from the right the Irlam midfielder unleashed a fierce volley that looked to have secured the victory, only for Piggot to pull out an amazing save to keep his side in the game, which would prove to be the case as the final whistle sounded.
IRLAM FC are at home again the coming Saturday, the visitors to Silver St are Barrow based Holker Old Boys. Kickoff is 3pm