A comprehensive 4-1 home victory against Wigan Robin Park at the weekend gave IRLAM FC a much needed push up NWCFL Div One, the side now sitting squarely in mid table as they moved up to ninth spot.
Goals from Irlam came courtesy of a penalty from Irlam skipper Steve Mills, alongside a man of the match winning performance from Adam Campbell, the Irlam striker scoring a hat trick to add to an incredible three hat tricks over consecutive weekends.
After a minutes silence in memory of MCFA president Frank Hannah who passed away in the week, Irlam were quickest out of the blocks , and with just seven minutes played, the home team opened their account.
A move in from the right saw Irlam striker Jordan Icely fire low towards the Wigan near post, the ball rebounding back to Icely from the Wigan keeper that allowed Icely to coolly pass across the line to Campbell who slotted home from 6yrds for his first of the afternoon.
At the other end, Wigan’s Alex Neil seemed certain to level the scores when he burst in behind Irlam’s defence, but all was lost when the no6 hesitated enough for Irlam keeper to close down and make a superb save to keep the one goal lead intact.
On 27 minutes the award of a penalty for Irlam came courtesy of an alleged handball in the area from a Wigan area, certainly contested by the visiting side who felt there was no such contact as well as claiming that the offence was outside the area. Nevertheless, the decision stood, allowing Steve Mills to step up and fire past a stranded Gore in the Wigan goal to make it 2-0.
A chance apiece came as the half time break approached, Wigan’s no9 Jake Patton going close at Irlam’s far post was followed up by Icely, the Irlam striker in behind Wigan’s defence but foiled by Wigan keeper Gore who was having an excellent afternoon between the sticks, rushing off his line to prevent the score from increasing as Irlam went in 2-0 up at the break.
First chance after the break came to Mooney, the Irlam winger twisting and turning before firing just wide of the visitors goal, but ten minutes into the half the visitors were to get their chance, and when a mass of players in the Irlam penalty area challenged for the ball the match official saw an infringement on a Wigan player which led to him pointing to the penalty spot as Irlam conceded what looked like a soft penalty. Wigan striker Paul Banawich stepped up and converted with ease to let the visitors back into what seemed like a comfortable fixture for Irlam.
Icely again went close for Irlam as his shot was tipped over by Gore, but soon after the two goal advantage was to be re established, when Icely again burst through to shoot, his shot this time rebounding into the path of the handily placed Campbell who fired home his second of the game to make it 3-1.
With the visitors heads going down, they let their concentration slip five minute later, and when a cross into the box evaded the Wigan defenders, it looked like skipper Steve Mills had forced the ball over the line, but the Wigan keeper scooped the ball out of the goal and into the path of Campbell, Irlam’s man of the moment making no mistake with the follow up to smash home his third of the match to make it 4-1 and put the tie beyond the reach of a dispirited Wigan side.
Final moves of the half mirrored the chances at the end of the first half, Patton striking the bar with a cracking shot for the visitors, whilst at the other end, Gore continued to frustrate Icely as he again kept the Irlam forward out, the final score 4-1 on the day.
IRLAM FC are in league cup action next Tuesday night as they play Bootle based Club Litherland Remyca FC. Kickoff is 7.45pm at Silver St