Jack Iredale delivered for Wanderers and his dad – even if his mum missed a star performance from the Whites’ defender, writes Pete Oliver.
Iredale’s parents are over for a few weeks from Australia and are following the Whites home and away during their stay.
Father Paul has been toughing it out in an on-going battle with cancer and watched Jack score one and have a hand in both other goals in Wanderers’ 3-2 win over Stevenage while mum Fiona was 200 miles away in Glasgow.
“It’s the one night mum chose to go to a concert instead of coming to the game so she's missed the game,” revealed Iredale.
“But my dad, my missus and other family were in the crowd tonight so it's really nice having them over.
“It's been a few months since I've seen them last and I'm really happy that dad's well enough to be here and he's enjoying himself and he'll be at every game home and away until he goes back to the sunny part of the world.
“Whenever they're here it's special and I'm really glad that they get to see me play on a platform like this club gives me, with a packed stadium and a lovely arena to be playing football in. He's having a great time and I'm just trying to keep him happy.”
Iredale helped send all the Whites home with a smile on their faces as Ian Evatt’s men dug in to make it back-to-back wins and go third in League One.
Three times Wanderers led as Iredale earned the penalty converted by Dion Charles, volleyed home the second goal early in the second half and then created the winner for Josh Sheehan with a perfectly delivered pass.
His work wasn’t over there, though, as Iredale and his defensive colleagues then had to stand firm to prevent Stevenage hitting back again as Wanderers followed up a clean sheet at Port Vale last Saturday with another resolute performance that got them over the line.
“It was an incredibly tough game,” added Iredale, who will be up against former club Carlisle on Saturday before the injury-hit Whites sign off for an international break.
“They threw absolutely everything at us and credit to the boys, we found a way to win. It wasn't always pretty but the best teams always find a way and tonight we did that so it's a really good three points for the club.
“That's got to be the mentality we have this season. We are going to face setbacks and twice we got pegged back but credit to the lads we kept going and got the winner; find a way, build the momentum, keep getting points on the board and we're doing that.
“We've got one more game to get through. That's what we've got to do and look forward to Saturday now. I'm sure we'll have a really good crowd backing us and we really want to get another three points.”
Watch the post-match interviews with Jack Iredale and manager Ian Evatt on Wanderers TV HERE
(Main image: Jake Horrocks)