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IRLAM FC 1 ATHERTON LR FC 2
IRLAM FC23 Mar 2014 - 19:53
LAST MINUTE HEARTBREAK FOR IRLAM
IRLAM FC suffered last minute heartbreak in NWCFL Div One at the weekend as Atherton LR ‘s Kristian Holt scored from the penalty spot in the dying minutes to condemn the Silver St side to a 2-1 home defeat at the weekend
The result dropped Irlam to eighth position in the division with just five games to go in the current campaign.
On a day of truly unbelievable conditions, the game was in danger of being abandoned on a number of occasions as freezing hailstones swept across the pitch, virtually blinding players, who to their credit continued on.
Chances fell midway through the first half to Irlam’s Joe Icely and Darren Green, Icely running through on goal, only for Harris to smother in the visiting goal, followed up by a long range effort by Green that caught Atherton by surprise.
At the other end, Atherton no11 Holt gave an early warning of his pace when he broke through Irlam’s defensive line, Irlam skipper Steve Mills’ challenge preventing a certain chance to open the scoring.
Irlam defender Barry Lomas was on hand to clear away a second chance for the visitors as the weather continued to worsen, and with minutes left to go in the half, Irlam’s Ben Christopher was stretchered off in what looked at first like a serious back injury. Thankfully the Irlam no4 had suffered a muscle injury to his side, and after treatment was able to get back on his feet, although he would play no further part in the afternoon.
The delay for the injury was an appropriate chance to end the half and get the players back into the dressing room.
The second half began in similar fashion to the first, with control at an absolute premium as long balls into each opposition halves seemed the only way to progress up the pitch.
On sixty minutes the breakthrough was made, and when a ball was whipped into the Irlam penalty area, Atherton’s Mark Adams emerged from the chaos to stab the ball home from close range to break the deadlock.
With game effectively a lottery, it was impossible to know If more goals would come, but on 75 minutes Irlam got the equaliser when Irlam skipper Steve Mills turned the ball into the visitors net in similar fashion to Atherton’s opener to make it 1-1
With the game looking like it was heading for a draw, despite both sets of players giving their all, a loose pass in Irlam’s midfield was enough for the visitors to push a ball into the path of Holt, who this time sprinted away from Mills, only for the Irlam skipper to bring the no11 down in the area for a penalty in the last minute of the game.
Predictably, Holt picked himself up off the floor to convert , breaking Irlam hearts both on and off the pitch, as soon after the final whistle blew to ensure the three points headed back to Atherton on a day when both sets of players should be proud of their efforts.
The result dropped Irlam to eighth position in the division with just five games to go in the current campaign.
On a day of truly unbelievable conditions, the game was in danger of being abandoned on a number of occasions as freezing hailstones swept across the pitch, virtually blinding players, who to their credit continued on.
Chances fell midway through the first half to Irlam’s Joe Icely and Darren Green, Icely running through on goal, only for Harris to smother in the visiting goal, followed up by a long range effort by Green that caught Atherton by surprise.
At the other end, Atherton no11 Holt gave an early warning of his pace when he broke through Irlam’s defensive line, Irlam skipper Steve Mills’ challenge preventing a certain chance to open the scoring.
Irlam defender Barry Lomas was on hand to clear away a second chance for the visitors as the weather continued to worsen, and with minutes left to go in the half, Irlam’s Ben Christopher was stretchered off in what looked at first like a serious back injury. Thankfully the Irlam no4 had suffered a muscle injury to his side, and after treatment was able to get back on his feet, although he would play no further part in the afternoon.
The delay for the injury was an appropriate chance to end the half and get the players back into the dressing room.
The second half began in similar fashion to the first, with control at an absolute premium as long balls into each opposition halves seemed the only way to progress up the pitch.
On sixty minutes the breakthrough was made, and when a ball was whipped into the Irlam penalty area, Atherton’s Mark Adams emerged from the chaos to stab the ball home from close range to break the deadlock.
With game effectively a lottery, it was impossible to know If more goals would come, but on 75 minutes Irlam got the equaliser when Irlam skipper Steve Mills turned the ball into the visitors net in similar fashion to Atherton’s opener to make it 1-1
With the game looking like it was heading for a draw, despite both sets of players giving their all, a loose pass in Irlam’s midfield was enough for the visitors to push a ball into the path of Holt, who this time sprinted away from Mills, only for the Irlam skipper to bring the no11 down in the area for a penalty in the last minute of the game.
Predictably, Holt picked himself up off the floor to convert , breaking Irlam hearts both on and off the pitch, as soon after the final whistle blew to ensure the three points headed back to Atherton on a day when both sets of players should be proud of their efforts.
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