Irlam v AFC Liverpool, 22nd March 2011


I didn't know whether it was me and how I read Google Maps, or just Google Maps being so damned unreliable.  Since I started watching AFC Liverpool, there had been a few away grounds I had travelled to and found myself either going off track or going in completely the wrong direction.  Well, Irlam in March 2011 was one of those occasions.  I had not managed to go to Silver Silver Street during either of the Club's previous two seasons due to work commitments.
 At one point about 30 minutes after arriving at Irlam Station, it was beginning to look like I would not make it on this night either.  I only realised that I had made my way into Cadishead instead, which is totally the opposite direction.  Thankfully with a bit of jogging in part, I was able to turn back and get myself to the ground at Silver Street with a couple of minutes to spare before kick off!  Phew.
Two well placed goals by Shaun Chart had given the Reds a 2-1 lead at half time in a match which was very early in the history of the AFC Liverpool Rattlers.  Dave Mac had been bringing his rattle since the turn of the year, whilst Alan Williams had joined in a few weeks previously. 
As for me, I only jumped on this particular bandwagon the previous Saturday at Atherton Colleries using one of Dave's spare rattles.  On that note, it was probably fairly unnoticed that I was also adding a bit to the noise. 
It was certainly at this point not noticed by Steve Fraser, who I bumped into whilst in the Club House at Half Time.  Steve was very keen that I should "control the rattle boys!"  My response to Steve's suggestion was that we are very selective as to when the rattles are used.  Steve's parting shot to me before leaving the Club House was that the rattle boys could be more selective, by just using them during the matches in which he did not attend! 
For the record, I did remind Steve of this a couple of years later when he kindly gave me a lift to Lime Street after the 2012/13 end of season presentation, which followed our final league game that season against Bacup Borough.  Steve was mildly amused. 
A looping header early in the second half by Richard Stenhouse put the Reds into a 3-1 lead, which gave us a comfortable control of the game for much of the second half.  In all honesty we should really have extended that 3-1 lead. 
Irlam did get one back late on, to make the last few minutes very nervous indeed.  As with their first goal during the first half which had temporarily brought them back on terms, it was particularly worrying at the ease in which they cut through our defence. 
Thankfully we did manage to hang on in a game, which had on the whole, been played in a good spirit.  That was at least until the final moments.  Two unsavoury incidents did put a downer on the game. 
The first one I did not get the best view of, as it was the other end of the touchline from where I was sat.  For the second one, Charty made a dangerous lunge on one of their players which earned him a yellow card.  Both incidents resulted in afters, as did the final whistle. 
After the good spirit in which the game had been played, it was so unnecessary really.  But we did get a result which would at that point have put a bit of pressure on the division's top two, Runcorn Town and AFC Blackpool.


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