Post by Kev Panther on Apr 2, 2013 18:30:11 GMT
SKELMERSDALE TOO SHARP FOR SALFORD
SALFORD CITY 0 SKELMERSDALE UNITED 3
By Neil Leatherbarrow
Skelmersdale United had matters all tied up and delivered by the 51st minute at Moor Lane as they secured a 3-0 victory that maintains their lead at the top of Evo-Stik Division One North, two from Josh Hine and a spectacular free-kick from Adam Morning registering the goals. The game was almost a tragic occasion and is certainly a reminder of how dangerous sport can be, as in the 36th minute Salford goalkeeper Ritchie Branagan was left motionless on the ground for three quarters of an hour by a neck injury that required his removal on a spinal board. By the final whistle the good news filtered through from the Hospital that the 21 year old had not suffered serious injury, though it was a moment that made everyone present have a think.
If Skelmersdale had been in any slumber they were rudely awoken inside a few seconds, United keeper Sam Ashton saving after a swift counterattack brought a low shot from City’s Nathan Taylor.
In the next eight minutes Branagan saved twice from Morning, but in the ninth minute he couldn’t pull off his rescue act again. A nice build-up put the ball to Kenny Strickland in the middle of the park, with a Hoddle like through ball Strickland put Hine in one on one with Branagan and the inform striker slipped the ball low into the net.
The game formed into a pattern, Skelmersdale on the attack and looking the dominant force with Salford always a threat on the breakaway.
In the 14th minute a loose ball in the centre caused a potential problem but United captain Tom Hardwick kept City out, before Branagan saved from Hine after Paul Woolcott set him up.
There was one big scramble in the Skelmersdale goalmouth in the 33rd minute, Ashton making three consecutive saves from Rob Kinsella, Taylor and Aaron Walters.
In the 36th minute Hine fired at goal, Branagan parried and the ball ran out to one side of the penalty area with Branagan and Hine in pursuit, Branagan tried to scoop the ball up while running at full pace, he stumbled and went head over heels before lying motionless on the ground, the ball ran on and Skelmersdale should have scored, but a strange aura took over and eyes went to the prone goalkeeper and the ball was cleared.
When the game restarted Nathan Taylor had taken over in goal and he was soon beaten, a Shaun Holden cross was helped on and Hine finished at the far post.
If the first-half hadn’t been eventful enough, right on half-time Antony Hickey went for a high ball with Kinsella, the big centre-forward inexplicably threw his head back into Hickey’s face and referee Mark Duncan showed him the red card.
Skelmersdale wasted no time after the restart in going in for the kill and did so in the 51st minute, via a spectacular Morning free-kick from the right that was given after a foul on Lewis Field.
Salford still counterattacked dangerously and Holden pulled off one magnificently timed tackle to thwart Osebi Abadaki, but really the rest was a procession.
Morning was unlucky not to get a hat-trick, Woolcott went close and Field hit the crossbar, while Gary Burnett learned a valuable lesson when failing to net with the goal at his mercy.
It was just the type of comfortable win that Skelmersdale needed, as it did not extend the players. But one has to thank god that Branagan was ok, he will fight another day. The alternative is sheer frightening.
SALFORD CITY: Branagan (Abadaki, 36), Banda, Lane, Bockarie, Bellamy, White D. (White M., 53), Taylor, Rother ©, Kinsella, Walters, Robinson (Mukendi, 70) Subs (not used) Bold, King
SKELMERSDALE UNITED: Ashton, Field, Holden, Hardwick ©, McIntosh, Strickland (Wright, 63), Hickey, Woolcott, Jackson (Evans, 71), Hine (Burnett, 63), Morning Subs (not used) Hughes, Phenix
Referee: Mark Duncan
Attendance: 157
SALFORD CITY 0 SKELMERSDALE UNITED 3
By Neil Leatherbarrow
Skelmersdale United had matters all tied up and delivered by the 51st minute at Moor Lane as they secured a 3-0 victory that maintains their lead at the top of Evo-Stik Division One North, two from Josh Hine and a spectacular free-kick from Adam Morning registering the goals. The game was almost a tragic occasion and is certainly a reminder of how dangerous sport can be, as in the 36th minute Salford goalkeeper Ritchie Branagan was left motionless on the ground for three quarters of an hour by a neck injury that required his removal on a spinal board. By the final whistle the good news filtered through from the Hospital that the 21 year old had not suffered serious injury, though it was a moment that made everyone present have a think.
If Skelmersdale had been in any slumber they were rudely awoken inside a few seconds, United keeper Sam Ashton saving after a swift counterattack brought a low shot from City’s Nathan Taylor.
In the next eight minutes Branagan saved twice from Morning, but in the ninth minute he couldn’t pull off his rescue act again. A nice build-up put the ball to Kenny Strickland in the middle of the park, with a Hoddle like through ball Strickland put Hine in one on one with Branagan and the inform striker slipped the ball low into the net.
The game formed into a pattern, Skelmersdale on the attack and looking the dominant force with Salford always a threat on the breakaway.
In the 14th minute a loose ball in the centre caused a potential problem but United captain Tom Hardwick kept City out, before Branagan saved from Hine after Paul Woolcott set him up.
There was one big scramble in the Skelmersdale goalmouth in the 33rd minute, Ashton making three consecutive saves from Rob Kinsella, Taylor and Aaron Walters.
In the 36th minute Hine fired at goal, Branagan parried and the ball ran out to one side of the penalty area with Branagan and Hine in pursuit, Branagan tried to scoop the ball up while running at full pace, he stumbled and went head over heels before lying motionless on the ground, the ball ran on and Skelmersdale should have scored, but a strange aura took over and eyes went to the prone goalkeeper and the ball was cleared.
When the game restarted Nathan Taylor had taken over in goal and he was soon beaten, a Shaun Holden cross was helped on and Hine finished at the far post.
If the first-half hadn’t been eventful enough, right on half-time Antony Hickey went for a high ball with Kinsella, the big centre-forward inexplicably threw his head back into Hickey’s face and referee Mark Duncan showed him the red card.
Skelmersdale wasted no time after the restart in going in for the kill and did so in the 51st minute, via a spectacular Morning free-kick from the right that was given after a foul on Lewis Field.
Salford still counterattacked dangerously and Holden pulled off one magnificently timed tackle to thwart Osebi Abadaki, but really the rest was a procession.
Morning was unlucky not to get a hat-trick, Woolcott went close and Field hit the crossbar, while Gary Burnett learned a valuable lesson when failing to net with the goal at his mercy.
It was just the type of comfortable win that Skelmersdale needed, as it did not extend the players. But one has to thank god that Branagan was ok, he will fight another day. The alternative is sheer frightening.
SALFORD CITY: Branagan (Abadaki, 36), Banda, Lane, Bockarie, Bellamy, White D. (White M., 53), Taylor, Rother ©, Kinsella, Walters, Robinson (Mukendi, 70) Subs (not used) Bold, King
SKELMERSDALE UNITED: Ashton, Field, Holden, Hardwick ©, McIntosh, Strickland (Wright, 63), Hickey, Woolcott, Jackson (Evans, 71), Hine (Burnett, 63), Morning Subs (not used) Hughes, Phenix
Referee: Mark Duncan
Attendance: 157