Rochdale Town 1 - 1 Irlam

Date: Saturday 14th February 2009
Competition: Vodkat NWCFL Div 1
Venue: Mayfield Sports Park, Castleton, Lancashire
Attendance: 030

Ticket In: £.400
Programme: £1.00
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Total: £5.00

Valentine’s Day falls across the UK and what better way to spend it than with your first love, football! Well, several better ways spring to mind now I come to think about it, but football is the choice! Today’s choice of contest is in Division 1 of the North West Counties League as Rochdale Town take on Irlam. Rochdale Town are playing their first season under than name after being formally known as Castleton Gabriels prior to this season. Formed in 1924, the clubs main honours include winning the Manchester League 1st Division and Murray Shield in 1986-87. The club have had difficulties in the last few seasons when they finished bottom of the league after large points deductions. They have also been badly affected by vandals as their ground is surrounded by public parks and they cannot close off access to the ground. This season has also seen them struggle as they currently lie in 15th position in a league of 18 with 5 wins from their 20 games played. Irlam are having a much happier time of things in their inaugural season in the North West Counties League as they currently lie in 7th position. I saw Irlam play a few weeks back against Bootle in the Vodkat Cup where a Jekyll and Hyde performance saw then lose 1-3 to arguably the best side in the league. It should be a very interesting to see if Irlam can turn it on against a team lower in the league. Rochdale Town play their home matches in the Mayfield Sports Centre, which also plays host to Mayfield ARLFC, so the spacious clubhouse is a hive activity prior to the kickoff as both teams have home matches this afternoon. The ground is right next to the ongoing match of rugby league, so referees whistles might become easily confused this afternoon. Also, the football pitch is double marked for rugby league, let’s just see how many players slightly lose their bearings a little bit. The pitch itself looks a little bit cut up and rough with some sandy patches, so it will be interesting to see how well the ball rolls.

The teams make their way out onto the pitch from the dressing rooms, Rochdale Town in their home strip of black and white striped shirts with black shorts and Irlam in their home strip of all blue. The captains sort everything out with the match officials in the middle and just on 3pm the match gets underway. And the action began right from the kickoff when Rochdale Town should have taken the lead after just 40 seconds of play. A ball down the wing was turned into the penalty area via a low cross and found a Rochdale Town striker just 6 yards out from goal unobstructed. When it looked easier to score, the striker blasted the ball over the bar in an absolute sitter miss. “Thats a real let off that Irlam” screamed the manager as he tried to rally his troops. Rochdale came forward again in the 3rd minute and won themselves a corner, the delivery of which was to the back of the penalty area and headed dangerously towards goal, but the waiting forwards header didn’t get the required amount of purchase and the Irlam keeper gathered the ball unpressured. Rochdale had made a very encouraging start to the match quickly putting their visitors under pressure, but their defence had to be alert in the 10th minute as Irlam got forward themselves. Rochdale Town’s keeper having to make a great parrying save from a shot from range in the 10th minute and allow his defence to clear the ball for a corner. But this proved to be only a brief moment of rest bite for the Irlam defence as Rochdale Town came at them again in the 13th minute, making a great run from the wing, the Rochdale Town winger fired in a powerful low shot from the angle that produced a fine save from the Irlam keeper for another corner, the Irlam defence standing up to their task manfully. But a slip up in the 15th minute would break the deadlock in favour of the home side when the ball managed to bounce over the Irlam keeper and Rochdale Town’s Whitehead rounded the stranded stopper and sent the ball goalwards from the angle. Irlam’s defenders desperately tried to scramble back to clear the ball, but one slipped over in his efforts and the ball rolled into the corner of the net in slow motion to give Rochdale Town what was a deserved lead on the balance of play so far. Irlam looked a little shell shocked by the way the game had started but nearly got themselves back into the match in the 25th minute when they won a free kick from out wide. The delivery beautifully curled into the box but avoided the heads of any of the players that had gathered within it, just blending wide of the far post and the score remained the same. The next opportunity would fall to Rochdale Town in the 28th minute when they won themselves a free kick in a dangerous position, however the delivery was skied over the crossbar without troubling the Irlam goalkeeper. Half an hour had now gone and the game was being conducted at quite some pace, Rochdale Town were looking the better of the two sides at this time with Irlam having to resort to long range pot shots that rarely hit their intended target. Although Irlam should have levelled the match in the 36th minute when they won themselves a corner. This was taken short before being looped into the penalty area with some height. The Rochdale Town keeper came to collect the ball but missed it completely and it fell to the feet of an Irlam striker with the goal at his mercy, but when it looked easier to score the striker blasted the ball over the bar and Rochdale Town escaped punishment for their keepers mistake, both sides now having missed an absolute sitter. Irlam had a couple more shots that were saved before the half drew to a close and the home side would have been happy with the 45 minutes work they had put in. Rochdale Town were deserving of their lead having made an impressive start to the match and should have been leading after just 40 seconds. But they have looked better in the midfield than Irlam and have created the more positive of the chances. Irlam have also had their chances but not taken them, so the match is far from over yet. An interesting 2nd half ahead.

Half Time:
Rochdale Town 1 – 0 Irlam

The second half started with just as much action as the first had contained and another good goalscoring opportunity occurred within the opening few minutes. It fell the way of Rochdale Town after a clearance from the goalkeeper landed beautifully over the Irlam defence and at the feet of a Rochdale Town player, who managed a great shot from the angle that went just inches wide of the post as Rochdale Town came agonisingly close to doubling their lead. The next major chance also fell to Rochdale Town as one of their midfielders became unlucky not to score one of the goals of the season. A 40 yard bullet shot was unleashed and had the entire defence beaten but not the frame of the goal as it cracked the post and deflected to relative safety. Rochdale then poured on yet even more pressure when they won two corners in quick succession, but neither came to any threat on the goal, Irlam were having everything but the kitchen sink thrown at them. But after this point, the momentum began to swing the way of the visitors and Irlam went after an equalising goal. A run from midfield in the 58th minute saw an Irlam effort from range deflect for a corner, the delivery of which was headed clear by a Rochdale Town defender. Massive Irlam shouts for a penalty were then turned down by the referee in the 61st minute when a great run down the wing and cut inside into the box saw the Rochdale Town winger be brought down in the penalty area, the referee waved away the claims and the match continued, much to the Irlam managements displeasure. But Irlam were not to be deterred and came at the Rochdale Town defence again in the 62nd minute and another good run from the wing saw the Irlam forward cut back and fire a powerful shot straight at the keeper, whose quick release of the ball saw a quick break down field by Rochdale Town and cross just being palmed away by the Irlam keeper, end to end action that you just couldn’t take your eyes off. Irlam continued to turn the screw in the 67th minute when the Rochdale Town defence couldn’t touch the Irlam forward as he made a great run across the box and fed his teammate brilliantly, the low shot that was fired in was saved well and the ball went for a Irlam corner. The corner was delivered to the near post but the Rochdale Town defence dealt with the ball fairly easily and the danger was cleared. But in the 74th minute the danger returned when more patient build up play on the wings saw a cross into the penalty area spilled by the Rochdale Town goalkeeper, but the defence collected themselves and managed to half clear the danger before a long range Irlam shot went a long way wide of the target. But Irlam’s patient play and persistence would be rewarded in the 77th minute when they would equalise. Once again, the route taken was down the wing where Irlam had enjoyed much success, a neat pass into the penalty area had the Rochdale Town defence appealing for offside, appeals that were rejected, and another neat layoff pass saw Irlam’s Palmer evade the attentions of two defenders and slot the ball past the keeper to deservedly bring Irlam level. But this wasn’t enough for Irlam and they now had the impetus to go after a winning goal. Winning themselves a corner in the 80th minute, the delivery was punched half clear before eventually being gathered by the keeper after a 2nd cross into the box. But right at the end of the match the momentum would swing again after Irlam were reduced to 10 men after a professional foul and the Rochdale Town keeper would pull off two world class saves to prevent Irlam taking in the lead. But deep into injury time, it looked like Irlam’s efforts and toils would all be undone when Rochdale Town were awarded a penalty for a push in the box. The striker stepped up and sent the ball low and to the keepers left, but the keeper got down well guessing the right way and saved the effort. However the relief amongst the Irlam players and supporters was short lived as the referee ordered a re-take of the kick, leaving the Irlam bench to verbally lambast the referee as they had done for periods during the match. But the relief was back soon after as the re-take was blasted wide of the left hand post and Irlam escaped a last minute concede and escaped with a point, as the full time whistle blew not long after.

Where to start when describing that 2nd half and finish. Another Jekyll and Hyde Irlam performance that saw them fail to get going until the 2nd half, but when it came they were right on the money. Rochdale Town will have been disappointed not to have been further than 1 goal in front by half time with the chances they had and in the end it cost them dearly. Irlam looked like they were going to win the match after they equalised, and they would have done had the Rochdale Town keeper not been in brilliant form at the end of the match, he certainly kept his team in the match. The penalty at the end looked like putting a massive slant of irony on the match, but despite help from the referee, Rochdale Town couldn’t convert and a draw that neither side will be satisfied with was the conclusion. Quite how the match ended in a draw I’m not sure but both teams will be grateful for a point at the end of the day. A game that was worth its entrance money and an absolutely enthralling conclusion, well done to both sides.

Full Time:
Rochdale Town 1 – 1 Irlam

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http://www.photobucket.com/rochdaletownirlam