ECCLESHALL eased themselves off the bottom rung of the North West Counties division one table after picking up a hard earned point in a 1-1 draw at Irlam.
Tom Wakefield headed on to Lyndon Campbell who beat a defender and laid the ball across the box to Nathan Calvert who turned his marker and lashed the ball into the roof of the net.
Eccleshall were playing some neat football which lead to George Burslem shooting just wide. Monaghan for Irlam created an opening but the cross went
begging with no one following up. At the other end, Calvert was causing
problems for the home side with an effort being blocked by a defender, then Lee Lambert denied Calvert.
Irlam created a couple of chances but both Liam Duffy and Monaghan failed to test Stuart Plant. Lambert again saved well from Burslem after good work by Wakefield but Burslem failed to capitalise on the rebound and a chance was lost.
Just before the break, Liam Duffy and Dean Burgess had shots blocked by the Eccleshall defence as Irlam pressed for an equaliser.
Irlam threatened at the start of the second period with Duffy curling a shot just wide of the upright. Wakefield had a
good chance which he wasted by blazing over.
Monaghan again failed to hit the target for Irlam after being set up by Jordan Smith. Plant then held a shot from Ryan Hutchinson as Irlam gained more possession.
With 12 minutes to go Eccleshall succumbed to Irlam when a dipping header by Hutchinson crept in at the post past Plant.
In the Staffs Senior league, Eccleshall AFC defeated Norton FC 3-0, thanks to a fine hat-trick from Sammy Miah.
This Saturday, Eccleshall visit West Didsbury and Chorlton (3pm).
In the Staffs League, Eccleshall AFC are at home to Alsager Town (2.30pm).
