Post by Kev Panther on Apr 8, 2013 18:29:37 GMT
SKELMERSDALE INCREASE TITLE DOMINATION
SKELMERSDALE UNITED 3 CLITHEROE 0
By Neil Leatherbarrow
Skelmersdale United’s domination of the Evo-Stik Division One North Championship chase is looking near to completion. Saturday’s victory over play off chasing Clitheroe lit up the West Lancashire College Stadium, leaving the finishing line in sight for Tommy Lawson’s men. Skelmersdale now need to win four of their remaining seven games to lift the title and that is if New Mills climb the mountain of winning all their last ten games of the season. The reality is that if results go right they could win it as soon as on Saturday when they travel to Farsley or maybe even sooner.
Skelmersdale grabbed the lead inside two minutes in devastating style. Matty Hughes released right-back Lewis Field down the right hand side, as he reached the goal-line he hoisted the ball beyond the far-post and Dale Wright sent a clever looping header into the far side of the goal.
United were unlucky that it wasn’t two after 16 minutes with another flowing move. Wright sent the ball out to Adam Morning on the left, Josh Hine dummied Morning’s cross and Clitheroe’s former Liverpool goalkeeper Hakan Burton made a tremendous save from Mark Jackson.
Skelmersdale had controlled the first-half and their goalkeeper Sam Ashton was having a quiet time, though down the other end Burton was keeping Clitheroe in the game making a pair of saves to frustrate Hughes, the former at the foot of the post after another expansive move involving Morning and Jackson.
The second half started with another save from Burton this time from Josh Hine after the striker ran onto a through ball.
In the 48th minute Burton had no chance, he was beaten by a stunning strike. Paul Woolcott threaded the ball through the Clitheroe defence; Morning latched onto the ball after nipping in off the left-wing and then hit a net buster of a shot inside the far post, leaving Burton an admiring observer.
Clitheroe responded but efforts from Simon Nangle and Danny Mahoney didn’t unduly worry United, the best chance the visitors got was in the 79th minute but Isaac Kusoluka’s effort was weak.
As the game progressed Hine had seen a shot deflected off target and away centre-back Jack Higgins made one superb intervention that saved a goal and Hughes couldn’t get a good contact with a header off a Mike Phenix cross.
Gary Burnett settled any doubts that may have been lingering in the 84th minute, out battling two defenders in determined fashion before sending the ball low into the net from 18 yards.
It was a quality performance from Skelmersdale, overflowing with confidence and they didn’t give a good Clitheroe team a chance. History is waiting to be made and it may happen very soon.
SKELMERSDALE UNITED: Ashton, Field, Holden, Hardwick ©, McIntosh, Wright, Hughes, Woolcott, Jackson (Hickey, 84), Hine (Burnett, 74), Morning (Phenix, 72) Subs (not used) Strickland, Evans
CLITHEROE: Burton, Smalley, Pugh ©, James, Higgins, Birchall, Nangle (Smith, 59), Mahoney, Dykes (Woods, 56), Mason, Canning (Kusoluka, 56)
Referee: Barry Cropp (Blackpool)
Attendance: 237
SKELMERSDALE UNITED 3 CLITHEROE 0
By Neil Leatherbarrow
Skelmersdale United’s domination of the Evo-Stik Division One North Championship chase is looking near to completion. Saturday’s victory over play off chasing Clitheroe lit up the West Lancashire College Stadium, leaving the finishing line in sight for Tommy Lawson’s men. Skelmersdale now need to win four of their remaining seven games to lift the title and that is if New Mills climb the mountain of winning all their last ten games of the season. The reality is that if results go right they could win it as soon as on Saturday when they travel to Farsley or maybe even sooner.
Skelmersdale grabbed the lead inside two minutes in devastating style. Matty Hughes released right-back Lewis Field down the right hand side, as he reached the goal-line he hoisted the ball beyond the far-post and Dale Wright sent a clever looping header into the far side of the goal.
United were unlucky that it wasn’t two after 16 minutes with another flowing move. Wright sent the ball out to Adam Morning on the left, Josh Hine dummied Morning’s cross and Clitheroe’s former Liverpool goalkeeper Hakan Burton made a tremendous save from Mark Jackson.
Skelmersdale had controlled the first-half and their goalkeeper Sam Ashton was having a quiet time, though down the other end Burton was keeping Clitheroe in the game making a pair of saves to frustrate Hughes, the former at the foot of the post after another expansive move involving Morning and Jackson.
The second half started with another save from Burton this time from Josh Hine after the striker ran onto a through ball.
In the 48th minute Burton had no chance, he was beaten by a stunning strike. Paul Woolcott threaded the ball through the Clitheroe defence; Morning latched onto the ball after nipping in off the left-wing and then hit a net buster of a shot inside the far post, leaving Burton an admiring observer.
Clitheroe responded but efforts from Simon Nangle and Danny Mahoney didn’t unduly worry United, the best chance the visitors got was in the 79th minute but Isaac Kusoluka’s effort was weak.
As the game progressed Hine had seen a shot deflected off target and away centre-back Jack Higgins made one superb intervention that saved a goal and Hughes couldn’t get a good contact with a header off a Mike Phenix cross.
Gary Burnett settled any doubts that may have been lingering in the 84th minute, out battling two defenders in determined fashion before sending the ball low into the net from 18 yards.
It was a quality performance from Skelmersdale, overflowing with confidence and they didn’t give a good Clitheroe team a chance. History is waiting to be made and it may happen very soon.
SKELMERSDALE UNITED: Ashton, Field, Holden, Hardwick ©, McIntosh, Wright, Hughes, Woolcott, Jackson (Hickey, 84), Hine (Burnett, 74), Morning (Phenix, 72) Subs (not used) Strickland, Evans
CLITHEROE: Burton, Smalley, Pugh ©, James, Higgins, Birchall, Nangle (Smith, 59), Mahoney, Dykes (Woods, 56), Mason, Canning (Kusoluka, 56)
Referee: Barry Cropp (Blackpool)
Attendance: 237