Irlam Vs Northwich Victoria 14th October NWCFL Premier

DATE –
Saturday 14th October 2017. COMPETITION - North West Counties Premier Division. VENUE - The Ambitek Stadium, Irlam.

Line-up's -
IRLAM - White, Harewood, Holt, Morrison, Mills (C), Ledson, Perry, Illidge (Hughes 68'), Icely, Eyres (Cassell 68'), Greene (Stewart H/T). Un-used subs' - Hughes, Mooney.

Vics' - Donlon, Grant (McDonnell 59'), Weston, Lawrence, Johnson (D), Willis, Bennett (C) (Marshall 79'), Fitton, Gorman (Gyimah 84'), Durnin (D), Matthews. Un-used subs' - Lawton, Pollard.

*D* Denotes debut.

Unavailable for Vics' - Reece Lyndon - CENTRE -BACK (Thigh), Anthony Shinks - CENTRE BACK (Knee).

No cautions or red cards for either side.

GOALS - Vics' - Daniel Johnson 58', Samuel Fitton 81'.

Vics' MOM - Allan Weston. A rock-solid performance at the heart of the Vics' rear-guard. Read the Irlam raids with aplomb and repelled anything that dangerous strikers Icely & Eyres had to offer. Vocal in his work, too. The stand-out performer amongst a thoroughly excellent team effort on the day.

REPORT -
The game opened up on a un-seasonably warm autumn afternoon in Irlam with both sides looking like they were enjoying the sunshine with chances at a premium in the opening quarter of the first half. The home side's striker Jordan Icely swept a tame shot wide on 17' and Vics' midfield man Sam Fitton did likewise on 24' as the action was somewhat sudued. Vics' debutant striker Oscar Durnin provided the first attempt on goal on 30' when the Irlam keeper' saved his fiercely struck shot from 8 yards with his feet after he was ably assisted by fellow hit-man Brian Matthews' cute lay-off. The rest of the half played out largely un-eventful as Irlam toiled in trying to test Vics' glove-man Mike Donlon.

HALF-TIME - Irlam 0-0 Vics'.

Vics' began the second half asserting some authority and made steady in-roads into the Irlam back-line. The lead was taken by the Greens' just short of the hour when the rampaging debutant left full-back Daniel Johnson met Johnny Gorman's slide-rule pass at the corner of the six-yard box on an angle and let fly with a screamer, sending the ball underneath the helpless keeper' who got the slightest of touches but was powerless such was the ferocity of the shot. Five minutes later on 64' Johnny Gorman should have doubled the lead when he was sent clean through by Oscar Durnin but chose to try and round the keeper' and was foiled when he had two Vics' attackers either side of him for a simple tap-in. Gorman was unlucky on 67' when he rattled the post with a right-foot drive from the edge of the box after being picked out beautifully from the right by skipper' John Bennett. Irlam launched a series of raids to stem the flow a little but Vics' deservedly got the second goal that their general dominance in the second half deserved on 81' when a flowing team move that started out from the defence saw Brian Matthews receive the ball on the far right touchline, he then delivered a slide-rule pass that picked out the marauding run of Samuel Fitton just inside the area and he calmly right-footed slotted the ball between the keepers' legs who had burst out to try and meet the danger after Irlams' back-line had been cut to ribbons. The home side were denied a consolation on 90' when sub' Danny McDonnell somehow headed clear sub' Andre Stewarts' goal-bound shot from off the goal-line as the Vics' ran out deserved winners and took the three point bounty back to Northwich.

Vics' boss Steve Wilkes' verdict with Jamie Dewsbury on the relieving first victory since taking charge -
Well done to you, the management team and all the players. A first win and boy what a performance from all 14 players who entered the pitch. We scored two excellent goals via good team-work, desire and build-up play. It was also our first win and clean sheet of the season so lots to be happy about as we now look to build on such a morale-boosting victory.

Yes Jamie - It was a good performance all round from everyone, work ethic, desire, togetherness, and the football that we played. We need to build on that now. Me and the management team think we're still a couple of players short but we're getting there. The clean sheet was probably the most pleasing aspect of the game, build from the back and move forwards. A special word for the Fans who were brilliant! Your fantastic support is greatly appreciated.

Match report & interview by Jamie Dewsbury.