RAMS PEGGED BACK AFTER SEPHTON STRIKE
Luke Sephton wheels away after sending the Rams in front.
Late Irlam header cancels out Luke Sephton’s earlier strike in Silver Street draw.
The Rams threw away a couple of points in their chase for promotion as a late equaliser saw Irlam share the points in a game that rarely reached the heights.
It was an insipid contest in which the visitors looked a little jaded and short of ideas, with the Rams usual free-flowing football failing to show.
The opening minutes had the small crowd anticipating an entertaining clash, as first Richie Baker and then Tom Hoyle both went close with efforts from the edge of the penalty area, whilst John Johnston repeated the trick at the other end, but from then on heart-stopping moments were few and far between.
The closest either side came in the first half was after 36 minutes when a slip by his marker allowed Oumar Camara to race towards the Irlam goal. As the keeper came out, he slid the ball beyond him, but watched on agonisingly as it struck the base of the post with Hoyle disappointingly slamming the rebound high over the bar.
Just minutes into the second period, the home side looked to take an advantage, but a close-range effort brought a magnificent save from Rams keeper Brad Rose.
Irlam did have the ball in the net on 70 minutes, but were frustrated to see the assistant’s flag correctly raised for offside, and almost before they could get over their disappointment, they fell behind.
Oscar Radcliffe stole the ball on the right-hand side before galloping away then slamming over a low cross which the home keeper could only parry to the feet of Luke Sephton, who confidently hammered the ball home to break the deadlock of a game that appeared to have 0-0 written all over it.
Irlam responded, and the ever-dangerous Jack Mitchell went close as his driven effort missed the target by inches.
The Rams had a chance to increase their lead when a well onside Liam Evans broke down the left only to see the assistant’s flag waved in the air as he surged into the box.
But then on 81 minutes, the scores were level.
A high cross from the right was met perfectly at the far-post by the unmarked Mitchell Henry, who planted home a header to square the game.
That was how the match finished, and the Rams may well rue the dropped points as the season progresses, but in all honesty, neither side produced the goods on the afternoon to deserve all three points, and a point apiece was probably a justified outcome.
Manager Steve Wilkes was in a philosophical mood after the match: “I think players and fans will be disappointed we didn’t hang on for the three points but that just shows how far we have come this season.
“This league is a tough league and in my opinion, Irlam are in a false position. They’ll be in the play-offs at the end of the season, so today’s point may just be a good point.
“We aren’t going to win every game or play well every week and people need to realise that. We move on to another tough fixture next Saturday.”
RAMSBOTTOM UNITED: Rose, Radcliffe, Hayhurst, Baker, Teague, Walder, Stacey, L Sephton (Lynch 77), Camara (Evans 75), Whyte, Hoyle (Turner 53) Not used: Meadowcroft, Tinker
Att: 110
