IRLAM PREVIEW
The last Saturday of November and a trip around the M60 to south west Manchester – no, not to the Trafford Centre – but to face Irlam in match number 26 of this league campaign as the Rams look to extend their lead at the top of the table.
MATCH: Irlam v Ramsbottom United
VENUE: The Silver Streeet Stadium, Irlam, M44 6HR
COMPETITION: North West Counties League Premier Division
DATE: Saturday 30th November 2024
KICK-OFF: 3:00pm
ADMISSION: Adults £7 | Concessions £4 | Under 16s £2 | Under 11s FREE
OVERVIEW:
So it wasn’t unlucky 13 as the Rams eased past West Didsbury and Chorlton last Saturday but they put their impressive league unbeaten run on the line again against tenth-placed Irlam.
The Rams have maintained a six point lead at the summit of the NWCFL Premier Division with 21 games still to play – there is still a long way to go, well about five months to be precise. Five months, 21 games – there is a lot to be excited about.
Travelling to Irlam through will not be an easy prospect although the Silver Street side have won just one of their last five league games, that coming against WD&C a couple of weeks ago but since have lost to Burscough and drawn with Barnoldswick Town although did turn over Ashton United in the Manchester Premier Cup in midweek.
The Rams won the reverse fixture under the HWRS lights back in August with Oumar Camara’s 65th minute strike giving the hosts a 3-2 win having been pegged back twice earlier in the game with Harvey Hayhurst’s goal and an own goal both being levelled. They are one of just four league teams this season that we have conceded more than one goal to in the previous 25 (Pilkington 2-2, Irlam 3-2, Longridge 1-3, Isle of Man 1-2).
However, the Rams have only conceded six goals across the 13-match unbeaten league run, scoring 27 so coming into this match are in prime form. But, you know what form is like – it’s supposedly temporary. Let’s see ….
Parking at the ground is quite limited but the food, apparently, is delicious! So get there nice and early and let’s get right behind the lads as the Rammy story continues.
HISTORY:
This will be the fifth meeting between the Rams and Irlam – although we did meet back in the Manchester League days when they were called Mitchell Shackleton. In the previous three games, it’s 3-0 to the Rams with one draw.
The first game came in the FA Cup Preliminary round in September 2020 with the Rams coming through 4-1 with goals from Mason Fawns, Jake Thompson, a Tom Kennedy penalty and Daniel O’Brien – all of the goals coming in the space of 14 second-half minutes which cancelled out Connor Martin’s ninth minute opener for the visitors.
We would finally meet in the league last season and a 1-1 draw welcomed that era, Nicholas Taylor’s opener being levelled by Harvey Whyte’s penalty. But our visit to Silver Street in December last year saw a Matthew Dudley (pictured above) double and Kuda Chingwaro easing the Rams to a 3-0 win.
STEVE WILKES SAYS:
“It was great to see the side battle to win the Cup game on Tuesday night, with us making eight changes so a big pat on the back to the players who have been patient for their opportunity.
“But it is back to league action at Irlam, never an easy place to go, but we go in good form and hope to continue that against a good side who have their own hopes of making the play-offs come end of the season so we will need to be at our best.”
