match date: Sat 10th March

posted by: W Dodd - Tuesday 13th March, 2012

BENNET PUTS IRLAM TO THE SWORD


IRLAM FC suffered an afternoon forget on Saturday, as they were handed six-nil thrashing at the hands of Cheshire Club Northwich Villa, a side that started the day in 2nd from bottom position in NWCFL Div One.

A virtuoso performance from Northwich striker Kwame Barnett put paid to any hopes Irlam had in this game as he found the back of Irlam’s net no fewer than four times, with the remaining two goals also created by Barnett in the lead up play.

An early warning came for Irlam as Barnett struck an excellent shot past Brewer in the Irlam goal to open the scoring, only for the striker to be judged offside much to Irlam’s relief.

At the other end, Irlam’s Darren Green and Adam Pegg both got their shots away, but nothing to trouble the visiting keeper so early in the game. A second attempt at goal by Irlam’s Darren Green seemed to indicate that the home side were feeling their way towards a decent start, and when Irlam centre half Chris Hilton headed just wide of goal it seemed like just a matter of time before the breakthrough.
However, the optimism around the ground was shattered when Northwich striker Bennet hustled for a ball knocked into Irlam’s penalty area, and with great strength managed to hold the Irlam defenders at bay as he struck his shot low and past Brewer to open the scoring.

A quick reply from the restart saw Irlam’s Pegg try his luck again, but within minutes the home side were shocked to find themselves a second goal down. Bennet, again making his way into the box was the first to rise for a looping header that went over the outstretched Brewer, only for the ball to hit the crossbar, hitting Brewer on the back and rolling into the goal for the cruellest of goals.

Without even a minute to compose themselves, Irlam found themselves out of possession, this time Bennet turning provider as he produced a low cross in from the right, superbly met by Northwich no 11 Danny Wright whose low drive was past Brewer in a flash to make it 3-0 to Northwich right on the stroke of half time.

Hopes of second half resurgence were in vain, as Irlam searched for a way to get back into this game, but with just over ten minutes gone in the second half, Bennet again picked up the ball in the Irlam penalty area, and once again proved unstoppable as he drove his third of the day past a frustrated Brewer in the Irlam goal to make it 4-0.

Irlam were struggling to pick up the pace in the game in most area, with a bright spot the introduction of Jordan Smith for Irlam, who certainly put a shift in for Irlam in the midfield, but to no avail this afternoon at least.

A half chance for Chris Hilton saw his shot scooped over the Northwich bar, before Hilton had to make way, unable to continue due to an ongoing injury.
Bennet for Northwich, not satisfied with his hatrick on the day, raced onto a long ball that he should never have been first to, but his determination made sure that he was, set the striker up for his fourth of the day, his first shot deflecting back to him off a save from Brewer giving the Northwich no10 the easiest of finishes.

With 20 minutes still to go, the final nail went into Irlam’s day as Northwich defender Travis Gray fired back in an Irlam clearance to go through a mass of players to make it six –nil on the day, Irlam’s heaviest defeat in their time in North West Counties, and slipping them to fifth in Div One and make this a day to forget.

Irlam make the short trip to Atherton Collieries this weekend in NWCFL Div One action, before entertaining Wigan Robin Park FC in the 2nd leg of their Div Trophy semi Final on Tuesday night 20th March. Kick off for this fixture is 7.45pm

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