match date: Sat 17 March

posted by: W Dodd - Monday 19th March, 2012

IRLAM'S MISERY CONTINUES


Defeat at the hands of Atherton Collieries at the weekend saw Irlam FC’s miserable run of defeats continue. Although a much better performance from Nick Parkers players at Alder St, a brace from Atherton’s Gary Burnett was enough to seal a tight win, with Irlam’s Adam Pegg on the score sheet to make the final score 2-1

The defeat drops Irlam firmly back into mid table ninth position, and in need of a virtually unbeaten run to the end of the season to remain in contention for promotion.

The first goal of the game came as a shock to Irlam’s back four, as Colls no 9 Burnett followed a straight ball into the Irlam penalty area to catch the Irlam defence napping to score after just sixty seconds.

Next up was Atherton’s Joe Fielding who picked up a loose ball outside Irlam’s area and fired just wide as Irlam soaked up early pressure in the game.

At the other end, Irlam’s Danny Butters was through on goal, only for the flag to be raised for a tight offside decision, quickly followed by a dangerous cross by Irlam captain Chris Palmer into the Atherton area, which was cleared away for a corner.

With the game starting to settle, Irlam began to get their share of possession, and on the half hour mark, a perfect cross into the area from Irlam captain Chris Palmer went begging as no one was on hand to convert what would have been a certain goal.

However, the next chance for Irlam would be more significant, and when Irlam’s Adam Pegg was awarded a free kick some 35yrds from goal, the home side prepared for a cross into their area. Pegg however was thinking otherwise, and the Irlam winger unleashed a low driven shot that stayed low and was past Josh Harris in the Atherton goal before he had time to readjust.

At the break, most spectators believed that the game was very even, with Irlam just finishing the stronger, but as the weather took a turn for the worse the next 45 mins would be a test for both sides.

With the rain now pouring down on the already soft pitch, both sides tried to re adjust their play to the conditions, but as a loose ball slipped away from Irlam a threaded pass through to Burnett for Atherton saw the striker get in behind the Irlam defence for the second time to slot home his 2nd of the game, with 20mins of the 2nd period gone.

Minutes later, Colls substitute Paul Hynes looked certain to add a third, but his powerful strike goalwards brought out a magnificent save from Brewer in the Irlam goal to keep the Silver St side in the game.

Irlam picked up the tempo again, and a decent header from Irlam left back Ardayfio from a corner just clipped over the Colls bar, followed soon after by another great chance to draw level when Irlam’s Dean Burgess just headed wide of the home sides goal.

At the other end, Colls striker Burnett was prevented from completing his hat trick on the day by another excellent save from Brewer, but as time went on, Irlam needed a breakthrough if they were to salvage anything from this game.

Last chances of the game fell to Irlam captain Chris Palmer, whose long range strike looked destined for the back of the home teams net, only for it to narrowly go wide of the target, and it was Palmer who ended the afternoons action, when his late strike at goal was parried away by Harris in the Colls goal to signal the end of a disappointing afternoon for the Silver St outfit, as their search for a return to form continues.

Irlam are at home this weekend in NWCFL Div One where their opponents are AFC Darwen. Kickoff is 3pm at Silver St.

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