Post by Kev Panther on Apr 10, 2013 19:13:51 GMT
SKELMERSDALE UNITED THREE WINS FROM GLORY
SKELMERSDALE UNITED 2 WAKEFIELD 0
By Neil Leatherbarrow
Skelmersdale United comfortably overcame lowly Wakefield at the West Lancashire College Stadium as manager Tommy Lawson welcomed the opposition from West Yorkshire by resting five players from the side that performed so well against Clitheroe. The victory leaves Skelmersdale nineteen points clear at the top of Evo-Stik Division One North, but more significantly means that the only team who mathematically can catch them New Mills will have to win all their remaining nine games to reach the 97 point mark, Skelmersdale are already on 89 points.
Skelmersdale took the lead inside three minutes. A Mike Phenix shot was deflected for a corner, which Kenny Strickland fired into the near post, where Dale Wright met the ball with a shot low into the Wakefield goal.
Skelmersdale dominated but to their credit Wakefield fought hard and defended well.
The two highlights of the remainder of the first-half were a turn and shot from Lewis Field which went just wide from 18 yards and a frantic few seconds on the 29 minute mark. Wakefield goalkeeper Neil Bennett saving from Antony Hickey before a superb interception by John Douglas prevented Gary Burnett from striking his sixteenth league goal of the season.
Wakefield did not just sit back and fend Skelmersdale off, they instead did their best to play some good attacking football, however they were not making much impression on the Skelmersdale defence despite their endeavour. Their best effort was a Lee Turner half-volley that went well off target.
For Skelmersdale, Phenix ended a powerful run by seeing his ball across the face of goal fail to find a goalscoring touch, Hickey flicked a header wide then a spectacular turn and shot from 30 yards by Burnett shaved the goalpost, with Bennett well beaten.
Skelmersdale put the game to bed in the 67th minute (not as they looked in much danger at the other end) and it was a well worked goal. Shaun Holden set off on a run down the left and put the ball to Hickey by the corner flag, he played the ball low into the penalty area, Tony Evans trapped the ball with his right foot then fired a stinging shot high into the net with his left foot.
In the 69th minute Hickey was unlucky to be kept out by the post and the rebound was saved by Bennett. At the other end Wakefield’s Shane Hamilton put a header across goal but that was the total sum of Wakefield’s threat.
Skelmersdale won with ease and Tommy Lawson will have a refreshed squad for what could be a famous week. The league could be won on Saturday, but that is unlikely as New Mills would have to lose both their next games. Skelmersdale travel to Goole on Tuesday night and then entertain Farsley on Saturday April 20th, it might be a date to note in your diary, even if you haven’t made it to the Stormy Corner this season, you could at least say you were there.
SKELMERSDALE UNITED: Ashton, Field, Holden, Hardwick ©, McIntosh, Wright, Phenix, Strickland, Evans, Burnett, Hickey Subs (not used) Morning, Woolcott, Jackson, Hine, Hughes
WAKEFIELD: Bennett, Hitchings, Grant, Blakey (Fieldhouse, 74), Fisher, Smith, Turner, Douglas, Cartman (Greenhalgh, 89), Hamilton, Thornton © Sub (not used) Wilkinson
Referee: Peter Gibbons (Wirral)
Attendance: 207
SKELMERSDALE UNITED 2 WAKEFIELD 0
By Neil Leatherbarrow
Skelmersdale United comfortably overcame lowly Wakefield at the West Lancashire College Stadium as manager Tommy Lawson welcomed the opposition from West Yorkshire by resting five players from the side that performed so well against Clitheroe. The victory leaves Skelmersdale nineteen points clear at the top of Evo-Stik Division One North, but more significantly means that the only team who mathematically can catch them New Mills will have to win all their remaining nine games to reach the 97 point mark, Skelmersdale are already on 89 points.
Skelmersdale took the lead inside three minutes. A Mike Phenix shot was deflected for a corner, which Kenny Strickland fired into the near post, where Dale Wright met the ball with a shot low into the Wakefield goal.
Skelmersdale dominated but to their credit Wakefield fought hard and defended well.
The two highlights of the remainder of the first-half were a turn and shot from Lewis Field which went just wide from 18 yards and a frantic few seconds on the 29 minute mark. Wakefield goalkeeper Neil Bennett saving from Antony Hickey before a superb interception by John Douglas prevented Gary Burnett from striking his sixteenth league goal of the season.
Wakefield did not just sit back and fend Skelmersdale off, they instead did their best to play some good attacking football, however they were not making much impression on the Skelmersdale defence despite their endeavour. Their best effort was a Lee Turner half-volley that went well off target.
For Skelmersdale, Phenix ended a powerful run by seeing his ball across the face of goal fail to find a goalscoring touch, Hickey flicked a header wide then a spectacular turn and shot from 30 yards by Burnett shaved the goalpost, with Bennett well beaten.
Skelmersdale put the game to bed in the 67th minute (not as they looked in much danger at the other end) and it was a well worked goal. Shaun Holden set off on a run down the left and put the ball to Hickey by the corner flag, he played the ball low into the penalty area, Tony Evans trapped the ball with his right foot then fired a stinging shot high into the net with his left foot.
In the 69th minute Hickey was unlucky to be kept out by the post and the rebound was saved by Bennett. At the other end Wakefield’s Shane Hamilton put a header across goal but that was the total sum of Wakefield’s threat.
Skelmersdale won with ease and Tommy Lawson will have a refreshed squad for what could be a famous week. The league could be won on Saturday, but that is unlikely as New Mills would have to lose both their next games. Skelmersdale travel to Goole on Tuesday night and then entertain Farsley on Saturday April 20th, it might be a date to note in your diary, even if you haven’t made it to the Stormy Corner this season, you could at least say you were there.
SKELMERSDALE UNITED: Ashton, Field, Holden, Hardwick ©, McIntosh, Wright, Phenix, Strickland, Evans, Burnett, Hickey Subs (not used) Morning, Woolcott, Jackson, Hine, Hughes
WAKEFIELD: Bennett, Hitchings, Grant, Blakey (Fieldhouse, 74), Fisher, Smith, Turner, Douglas, Cartman (Greenhalgh, 89), Hamilton, Thornton © Sub (not used) Wilkinson
Referee: Peter Gibbons (Wirral)
Attendance: 207