FA Vase Second Round - Norton & Stockton Ancients 4 Irlam 3
Sun 14th November 2010 | FA Competition News | By Ian Templeman
Irlam FC 's hopes of progressing into the third round of the FA Vase were undone in spectacular fashion up in the North East at the weekend, going down 4-3 after an amazing last five minutes had both sides guessing who would come out on top.
Irlam's hosts, Norton and Stockton Ancients, proved to hot to handle in the opening attacks of the game, and despite a couple of early chances for Irlam, two quickfire goals from the home side had the Silver Street side wobbling in this fixture. All around the Irlam camp were hoping that this early setback would not be the shape of things to come.
With Norton's fullbacks pushing on at every opportunity, Irlam found themselves deeper in their own half than they are accustomed to playing. They slowly started to claw back the advantage and a free kick won just outside Norton's area saw Chris Palmer strike a sweet shot around the home side's defence to peg back the score at 2-1.
Norton weren't finished though, and any hopes of going in at 2-1 were dashed as another attack down the Irlam flanks led to a well taken third goal right on the stroke of half time.
Irlam manager Ryan Gilligan had lots of talking to do at half time, and Irlam emerged the quicker off the mark as the second period commenced.
As the Irlam players threw themselves into the fixture, Norton started to hesitate slightly, their rhythm of the first half disappearing fast. The pressure brought a reaction and it was not long before tempers flared from the home side.
An ill timed tackle from a Norton player brought about two needless red cards as Irlam's Craig Fleury was dismissed along with a Norton player for a seemingly innocuous coming together. No sooner than the two players left the pitch, a dangerous tackle through the back of Irlam's Will Ahern saw another Norton player see red, putting the fixture at 10 v 9 with 15 minutes to go.
With Irlam 3-1 down and the clock counting down, Irlam substitute Josh Mitten entered the field as an extra forward, and his impact was immediate. With two astonishing goals, both from volleys within just two minutes Mitten had seemingly secured a draw at 3-3 with barely a minute left in the fixture.
As the crowd started to filter out of the ground, a desperate clearance from Norton found the only Norton player up the pitch, who promptly ran for 20 yards before looping a shot over the outstretched Petrou in the Irlam goal to secure an unbelievable win and break the hearts of the Irlam contingent.
FA Vase Second Round - Norton & Stockton Ancients 4 Irlam 3
Sun 14th November 2010 | FA Competition News
By Ian Templeman
Irlam FC 's hopes of progressing into the third round of the FA Vase were undone in spectacular fashion up in the North East at the weekend, going down 4-3 after an amazing last five minutes had both sides guessing who would come out on top.
Irlam's hosts, Norton and Stockton Ancients, proved to hot to handle in the opening attacks of the game, and despite a couple of early chances for Irlam, two quickfire goals from the home side had the Silver Street side wobbling in this fixture. All around the Irlam camp were hoping that this early setback would not be the shape of things to come.
With Norton's fullbacks pushing on at every opportunity, Irlam found themselves deeper in their own half than they are accustomed to playing. They slowly started to claw back the advantage and a free kick won just outside Norton's area saw Chris Palmer strike a sweet shot around the home side's defence to peg back the score at 2-1.
Norton weren't finished though, and any hopes of going in at 2-1 were dashed as another attack down the Irlam flanks led to a well taken third goal right on the stroke of half time.
Irlam manager Ryan Gilligan had lots of talking to do at half time, and Irlam emerged the quicker off the mark as the second period commenced.
As the Irlam players threw themselves into the fixture, Norton started to hesitate slightly, their rhythm of the first half disappearing fast. The pressure brought a reaction and it was not long before tempers flared from the home side.
An ill timed tackle from a Norton player brought about two needless red cards as Irlam's Craig Fleury was dismissed along with a Norton player for a seemingly innocuous coming together. No sooner than the two players left the pitch, a dangerous tackle through the back of Irlam's Will Ahern saw another Norton player see red, putting the fixture at 10 v 9 with 15 minutes to go.
With Irlam 3-1 down and the clock counting down, Irlam substitute Josh Mitten entered the field as an extra forward, and his impact was immediate. With two astonishing goals, both from volleys within just two minutes Mitten had seemingly secured a draw at 3-3 with barely a minute left in the fixture.
As the crowd started to filter out of the ground, a desperate clearance from Norton found the only Norton player up the pitch, who promptly ran for 20 yards before looping a shot over the outstretched Petrou in the Irlam goal to secure an unbelievable win and break the hearts of the Irlam contingent.
