NORTHWICH Victoria assembled a 3-1 lead but Irlam went home with a point in Wednesday night's North West Counties Premier Division clash at Wincham Park.

Dylan Meredith (12 mins) put the visitors in front but Vics were ahead by half-time thanks to Tom Kilifin (27) and man-of-the-match Jamie Reed (30), who extended the lead with his second strike in the 53rd minute.

But Irlam did not throw in the towel.

Back they came with two goals in three minutes from Liam Pollitt and Ryan Ledson, with 13 minutes then remaining for either side to find a matchwinner.

Vics came closest when the ball reached Ben Greenop in space at the far post.

He controlled the ball well but his shot was well blocked by the keeper Lee White.

Vics were on the front foot from the off, following on from Saturday's convincing 6-1 win against Burscough, and forced a corner in the first minute which was drilled into the middle by Ryan Winder but evaded all the Vics attackers.

However, it was Irlam who had the first big chance of the night after just five minutes when centre back Ledson strode forward and struck a fiercely hit shot which Danny Taberner did well to push away for a corner.

In the 11th minute, Tom Kilifin led a quick counter, and laid the ball across for Harvey Whyte, but his shot was well blocked.

Irlam took the lead in the 12th minute after earning a free kick 25 yards out.

Meredith stepped up and smashed an unstoppable shot into the top right corner.

Seven minutes later it could have been two for Irlam, as Pollitt broke down the right and crossed the ball for Jordan Southworth to strike a shot just wide of the post when well placed.

Vics drew level after 27 minutes, when Kilifin took advantage of a slight mix up at the back for Irlam, and struck a sweet shot from 20 yards past White in their goal.

Three minutes later and Vics were in front after a sweeping move from the back found Greenop in midfield, and Reed raced onto his perfect through ball and he finished off well past White.

Vics were on top now, and a couple of minutes later, Reed beat his man yet again down the left side of the area, and laid a lovely ball back across the box for the incoming Whyte but his placed shot went just wide.

Moments later, and Reed was at it again, as he skinned his defender and crossed the ball for Martin Grundy on the edge of the area but his shot was straight at the keeper.

Three minutes later, Reed again beat his man all ends up, and crossed for Greenop whose shot struck the post and was cleared.

Irlam had just about weathered the storm, and nearly got back on level terms in the 41st minute, as Jordan Icely's well struck effort hit the bar.

Then in the final minute of the half, they thought they had equalised but Pollitt's effort at goal was brilliantly tipped round the post by Taberner.

Vics again started the new half brightly and increased their lead in the 53rd minute as the irrepressible Reed beat the offside trap, and calmly slotted the ball past White.

Then came the match changing moment in the 70th minute.

Irlam made a triple substitution as Vics were beginning to tire.

Immediately, Taberner had to make a great diving save to deny Perry, but he had no chance in the 74th minute as Pollitt struck an absolute thunderbolt into the top of the net to top off some serious pressure from Irlam.

Three minutes later, they were level as they earned a corner which was powerfully headed home by Ledson after he was left free in the box and it proved to leave the spoils shared.

Vics: Taberner, Henry ( Grundy 22'), Wilson , Barski, Vinten, Whyte, Camozzi, Winder, Kilifin ( Henderson 65'), Reed, Greenop. Subs not used: Doran, FitzGerald.