Post by Kev Panther on Apr 15, 2013 19:43:16 GMT
SKELMERSDALE UNITED ARE CHAMPIONS ELECT
FARSLEY 1 SKELMERSDALE UNITED 5
By Neil Leatherbarrow
Skelmersdale United’s march to the Evo-Stik Division One North title is all over bar the shouting and there should be plenty of that on Tuesday night and next Saturday at the West Lancashire College Stadium. The way Tommy Lawson’s men over came the last obstacle in their way in West Yorkshire was clinical to say the least, grabbing the lead in the 16th minute, Skelmersdale had the game firmly under control by the 37th minute as they netted four times in a whirlwind 21 minutes that leaves them nineteen points clear at the top of the table. They even added some cream on top of the cake when they struck their 100th league goal of the season.
The game had quite an even opening period, Matty Hughes going close for Skelmersdale after Mark Jackson set him up, while Farsley responded with a Chris Walton effort from 25 yards that whistled over the crossbar.
It was a flowing move that brought about Skelmersdale’s first goal, the ball being worked down the right wing before a ball across the edge of the penalty was helped on by Josh Hine, putting Adam Morning away cutting in on goal from the left, and he hit the ball low and hard into the far corner.
Three minutes later a ball from the right was dummied by Jackson and Morning just cleared the crossbar, before Rob McIntosh headed wide from a Dale Wright free-kick.
In the 27th minute the goal that many Skelmersdale supporters have wished for all season arrived. Lewis Field set off on another buccaneering run down the right and cut inside, the popular right-back who even looks like a latter day “Blackbeard” exchanged passes with Jackson before running on and flicking the ball over Farsley’s appropriately named goalkeeper Tom Morgan, sending it into the net behind him. The celebrations were manic, Field is the only regular outfield player who had not scored a league goal, and he was engulfed by players and fans alike.
Skelmersdale’s travelling support numbered into three figures and they didn’t have long to wait to cheer again. A free-kick was lofted into the goalmouth in the 31st minute, Morgan under pressure from McIntosh punched weakly, the ball dropping down vertically onto McIntosh’s head and then over a now flat-footed Morgan into the goal.
All this time Farsley were going forward themselves and although Adam Priestley threatened, generally their efforts were foundering on a solid Skelmersdale defence and it was Skelmersdale who always looked the more likely to score, which they did in the 37th minute. With the smell of blood now in his nostrils Field made another run on goal but was felled by Simeon Bambrook, up stepped the only other regular who hadn’t scored, goalkeeper Sam Ashton, who apparently had come second in a training session penalty contest a couple of weeks ago, he drove his spot kick low inside Morgan’s left hand post.
The game was won and with the title just one game away Skelmersdale took their foot off the accelerator after the interval.
In the 57th minute the impressive Gareth Grant showed remarkable speed to force his way in on goal and pulled a goal back for the hosts. Then Ashton made a pair of top class saves to keep out first Grant then Matty Dempsey.
Skelmersdale finished the stronger team and Jackson headed on a long ball in the 80th minute, putting Hughes into the clear, he slotted the ball home to register Skelmersdale’s century of goals for the season.
Unless you are at least about fifty years old you are probably too young to remember Skelmersdale United last winning a league title when they won the Cheshire League for the second successive year back in 1970. Skelmersdale need just two points from their remaining five league games to make certain that the present generation of Skelmersdale supporters can have memories of their own and that is only if New Mills win all their last seven league games. There isn’t a bookmaker in the land that would give you a price on Skelmersdale failing now, despite the misgivings of Tommy Lawson. United travel to Goole on Tuesday night, so Wednesday might bring some headaches around the Skelmersdale area, but Saturday will be a day to be at the West Lancashire College Stadium, when they meet Farsley again. Who knows it might be another 43 years.
FARSLEY: Morgan, O’Brien ©, Bambrook, Walton, Dempsey, Etherington, Priestley, Tiani, Mallorey (Harrison, 43), Grant, Davies (Dugdale, 67) Subs (not used) Jackson, Higginson
SKELMERSDALE UNITED: Ashton, Field, Holden, Hardwick ©, McIntosh, Wright (Strickland, 67), Woolcott, Jackson, Hine (Burnett, 67), Morning (Hickey, 81) Subs (not used) Phenix, Evans
Referee: Wayne Grunnill
Attendance: 152
FARSLEY 1 SKELMERSDALE UNITED 5
By Neil Leatherbarrow
Skelmersdale United’s march to the Evo-Stik Division One North title is all over bar the shouting and there should be plenty of that on Tuesday night and next Saturday at the West Lancashire College Stadium. The way Tommy Lawson’s men over came the last obstacle in their way in West Yorkshire was clinical to say the least, grabbing the lead in the 16th minute, Skelmersdale had the game firmly under control by the 37th minute as they netted four times in a whirlwind 21 minutes that leaves them nineteen points clear at the top of the table. They even added some cream on top of the cake when they struck their 100th league goal of the season.
The game had quite an even opening period, Matty Hughes going close for Skelmersdale after Mark Jackson set him up, while Farsley responded with a Chris Walton effort from 25 yards that whistled over the crossbar.
It was a flowing move that brought about Skelmersdale’s first goal, the ball being worked down the right wing before a ball across the edge of the penalty was helped on by Josh Hine, putting Adam Morning away cutting in on goal from the left, and he hit the ball low and hard into the far corner.
Three minutes later a ball from the right was dummied by Jackson and Morning just cleared the crossbar, before Rob McIntosh headed wide from a Dale Wright free-kick.
In the 27th minute the goal that many Skelmersdale supporters have wished for all season arrived. Lewis Field set off on another buccaneering run down the right and cut inside, the popular right-back who even looks like a latter day “Blackbeard” exchanged passes with Jackson before running on and flicking the ball over Farsley’s appropriately named goalkeeper Tom Morgan, sending it into the net behind him. The celebrations were manic, Field is the only regular outfield player who had not scored a league goal, and he was engulfed by players and fans alike.
Skelmersdale’s travelling support numbered into three figures and they didn’t have long to wait to cheer again. A free-kick was lofted into the goalmouth in the 31st minute, Morgan under pressure from McIntosh punched weakly, the ball dropping down vertically onto McIntosh’s head and then over a now flat-footed Morgan into the goal.
All this time Farsley were going forward themselves and although Adam Priestley threatened, generally their efforts were foundering on a solid Skelmersdale defence and it was Skelmersdale who always looked the more likely to score, which they did in the 37th minute. With the smell of blood now in his nostrils Field made another run on goal but was felled by Simeon Bambrook, up stepped the only other regular who hadn’t scored, goalkeeper Sam Ashton, who apparently had come second in a training session penalty contest a couple of weeks ago, he drove his spot kick low inside Morgan’s left hand post.
The game was won and with the title just one game away Skelmersdale took their foot off the accelerator after the interval.
In the 57th minute the impressive Gareth Grant showed remarkable speed to force his way in on goal and pulled a goal back for the hosts. Then Ashton made a pair of top class saves to keep out first Grant then Matty Dempsey.
Skelmersdale finished the stronger team and Jackson headed on a long ball in the 80th minute, putting Hughes into the clear, he slotted the ball home to register Skelmersdale’s century of goals for the season.
Unless you are at least about fifty years old you are probably too young to remember Skelmersdale United last winning a league title when they won the Cheshire League for the second successive year back in 1970. Skelmersdale need just two points from their remaining five league games to make certain that the present generation of Skelmersdale supporters can have memories of their own and that is only if New Mills win all their last seven league games. There isn’t a bookmaker in the land that would give you a price on Skelmersdale failing now, despite the misgivings of Tommy Lawson. United travel to Goole on Tuesday night, so Wednesday might bring some headaches around the Skelmersdale area, but Saturday will be a day to be at the West Lancashire College Stadium, when they meet Farsley again. Who knows it might be another 43 years.
FARSLEY: Morgan, O’Brien ©, Bambrook, Walton, Dempsey, Etherington, Priestley, Tiani, Mallorey (Harrison, 43), Grant, Davies (Dugdale, 67) Subs (not used) Jackson, Higginson
SKELMERSDALE UNITED: Ashton, Field, Holden, Hardwick ©, McIntosh, Wright (Strickland, 67), Woolcott, Jackson, Hine (Burnett, 67), Morning (Hickey, 81) Subs (not used) Phenix, Evans
Referee: Wayne Grunnill
Attendance: 152