Premier Division

Irchester United  1    Blackstones  3

Saturday, 31 March 2012

Stones emerged from a poor run to take the points in an eventful game at Alfred Street.

The relegation threatened Romans took the lead after four minutes, Craig Lawman winning a tussle with Matt Porter and firing into the roof of the net.

Simon Mowbray glanced a header wide from a Michael Nelson cross as the visitors exerted pressure, and they levelled on 28 minutes. Mowbray's lay off found Danny Barker on the left and his centre saw Mowbray control with his first touch and steer a low shot wide of home keeper Harry Allington with his second.

Stones went ahead after 36 minutes, Nelson converting a penalty awarded following an off the ball incident.

Three minutes later home marksman Lawman was dismissed leaving Irchester with an uphill task.

The Romans rose to the challenge with Daryl Lawman's well struck effort forcing Stones keeper Lee Crockett into a tip onto the bar.

The ten men started the second half brightly. From a Daryl Lawman free kick Scott Marlow had a close range effort blocked on the line by Porter, while Stuart Reid curled a snap shot inches wide of the target.

Mowbray missed a good chance when played in by Robbie Pearce, but he fared better after 71 minutes. Liam Buttery's astute pass played Mowbray through to outpace a defender and fire home from the left side of the box.

Daryl Lawman was just too high with a free kick for Irchester and an arm injury to keeper Crockett made it an anxious close to the game for the visitors.

They protected stand in keeper Jacob Smitheringale well although the Romans almost cut the deficit in stoppage time when Porter cleared Chris Gell's header off the line.

Irchester: Harry Allington, Ross Whitney (Ben Wilson), Matt White, Ben Allington, Scott Marlow, Daryl Smith (Chris Gell), Liam Bright, Stuart Reid, Craig Lawman, Shaun Melville (John Bowden), Daryl Lawman.

Blackstones: Lee Crockett (Mike Goode), Tim Quy, Andy Ellis, Matt Porter, Jacob Smitheringale, Steve Burns, Robbie Pearce, Luke Avis, Michael Nelson (Nicki Young), Simon Mowbray, Danny Barker (Liam Buttery).