Browse Sections

• Salford City Reds
• Local football
• Local cricket

Late winner sickens Irlam

8/11/2002

Air Miles Manchester League round-up

Royton Town 5 Irlam MS 4: DESPITE coming away pointless after a real thriller, Irlam emerged with credit and character. They played great football for long spells on a very heavy pitch but had to come from behind four times.

Mark Bradshawe twice equalised early on, first with a cracking goal following a Robinson pass and then with a header. Royton regained the lead at 3-2 but a never-say-die attitude kept Irlam going forward and right on half-time John Robinson made it all square from the penalty spot.

The home side went in front again but Tony Camilleri levelled with a free kick in the top corner. Late in the game with Nick Ronbinson running the game in midfield and Irlam in total command and doing all the attacking, Royton snatched a late winner.

AN EARLY opener from Steve Roberts boosted Irlam Reserves' hopes of beating Prestwich Heys, but despite a sound display they lost 5-1.

Dukinfield Town 7 Monton Amateurs 1: HORRENDOUS conditions played a major role in the outcome of this game.

In the early stages Monton passed the ball around well without really threatening. They trailed 2-0 before Denis Hardman finished off a bright move just before the break.

The half-time team-talk focused on giving nothing away in the early part of the second half. Dukinfield had other ideas and Monton were 4-1 down with less than an hour gone. The game was beyond Monton by now and this showed in the players' approach as they slumped to another heavy defeat.

MONTON'S Reserves fought back from being 4-2 down to East Manchester with only 10 minutes left to pull off a great 6-4 victory. Rob Brookes hit a hat-trick, the other goals coming from Bragg (2) and McGonagle.

Prestwich Heys 2 Willows 1: WILLOWS left it too late to repair a two-goal deficit against Heys on a muddy Sandgate Road pitch.

Heys winger John Garrick opened the scoring on 15 minutes when he drilled home a low shot from 15 yards. Willows' only attacking success was coming from wide men Dave Coffey and Craig Jones but the home side comfortably kept their lead going into the break.

Five minutes after the restart, Garrick doubled Heys' lead with a close-range effort which prompted a reshuffle from the Salford side. Stand-in attacker Steve Wrigley scored with 10 minutes remaining after he beat his marker on the edge of the box. But despite several late opportunities, Willows could not get a share of the spoils.