FA VASE MATCH REPORT : IRLAM FC 3 HEMSWORTH MWFC 1

A excellent 2nd half display against Hemsworth Miners Welfare at the weekend saw IRLAM overturn a 1-0 half time scoreline to roar back to a 3-1 victory, goals courtesy of Connor Martin, Connor Braithwaite and Liam Pollitt.
The win places IRLAM into the FA Vase 3rd Round, where they have been drawn at home to Scunthorpe based Club Winterton Rangers FC, the tie to take place on Saturday 1st December.

A decent Hemsworth side set the pace in the game as IRLAM were second to most balls as the Yorkshire side set the tempo but with strong possession but little threat as the game passed the twenty minute mark. Soon after though, a short but sustained period of pressure would give the visitors their reward as Hemsworth would open the scoring. A corner, cleared away by Irlam was followed up by a quick one two which nearly saw the away side in again as alarm bells started ringing. On 24 minutes a floated cross in from the left would give the visitors their reward as it rose over White in the Irlam goal and into the path of an unmarked Nash Connolly, the winger finishing well with a low strike into the bottom corner of the Irlam goal.
The goal would underline the away teams efforts, with Irlam largely chasing the game as the HT whistle sounded with much to do it would seem to get back into this game.
HT 0-1
The second half would start with a fright for IRLAM as another decent chance fell Hemsworth's way, a shot goalwards that required a clearance off the Irlam goal line by Joel Amado, a let off that seemed to galvanise the IRLAM players as they began to grow into the game.
Minutes later and the score was level, a ball into the visitors penalty area was not dealt with, a half clearance that would fall to Irlam striker Connor Martin who fired in an unstoppable drive from 18 yards out to get IRLAM back into the game.
The visitors were guilty of a lack of concentration again minutes later as IRLAM would take the lead, another cross in to the box not dealt with as Irlam defender Connor Braithwaite would somehow head the ball from a difficult angle, high and goalwards as it looped over May in the visiting goal and in for a 2-1 lead as IRLAM turned the game on its head.
The game would ebb and flow as the visitors would look for a way back into the game but IRLAM were in the ascendancy.
On 75 minutes the only flash point of the game came when a wayward challenge by Hemsworth's Harry Viggars on Perry would result in a red card for the no 5, with Irlam's Connor Martin also seeing red for his involvement after the incident.
With both teams down to ten men and the clock running down, the visitors would push up in search of the equaliser, with the threat of a counter attack always there. And so it would prove to be as Perry raced away down the right for IRLAM , but with only the keeper to beat a neat lifted ball over the oncoming May in the Hemsworth goal could only find the crossbar as the decent crowd gasped.
As the game entered extra time the contest would come to an end, a mix up between the Hemsworth centre half and the keeper, who had surely come too far off his line, led to the defender heading over May into an empty space, as Pollitt raced through for an early Christmas present as he smashed the ball into the empty net, cue great celebrations around the ground as the final whistle blew before the restart could take place.

Our thanks go the the parents and young players of Parkwyddn U9's who had a great day as mascots and ball boys and girls at the game as well as enjoying a penalty shootout at HT as well as lots of hot dogs!!

Updated 09:40 - 30 Aug 2019 by IRLAM FC