Post by Kev Panther on Apr 27, 2013 9:40:31 GMT
SKEM SHADOW SQUAD ALMOST DO IT AT LAIRD’S
CAMMELL LAIRD 3 SKELMERSDALE UNITED 2
By Neil Leatherbarrow
Skelmersdale United rested almost a full team at Laird’s after the weekend’s celebrations and faced with a team that have the play-offs and hence promotion in their sights, the shadow players almost pulled off a great success. After twice equalising and looking the best team for most of the second-half it was only a defensive error two minutes from time that thwarted them.
Lairds took the lead in the seventh minute; Adam Morning playing in an unaccustomed number three shirt mistimed a tackle on Jamie Henders and the big striker slotted home the resulting penalty.
Dale Wright levelled on the quarter-hour with a goal that was worth the Mersey Tunnel Toll in itself. The big midfielder running onto a bouncing ball then looking up to see Laird’s goalkeeper Kevin Atherton slightly off his line before unleashing a dipping 35 yard shot that “whooshed” into the net.
The game became very close after Wright’s goal, both teams endeavouring to play football on the floor.
In the 37th minute Laird’s retook the lead. A poor defensive clearance putting the ball straight to Henders and it was then slipped sideways to the home team’s best player Joe Holt, who found the net from 15 yards out.
Skelmersdale came out after the break playing some attractive football and for the early part of the second 45 minutes forced Laird’s onto the back foot. Eventually a swift movement down the right saw the ball released across the home penalty area, from where Mike Phenix fired home a well-deserved equaliser in the 64th minute.
The game see-sawed in the latter stages and just when a draw looked the probable outcome another defensive slip by a Skelmersdale defence that had never played together proved a fatal one, the ball going directly to Henders, who finished well.
A makeshift team had played well for Skelmersdale and the management will have learnt plenty from the game, which was no doubt the intention. The long term target is now one hundred points for which they need four points from the last two games. The odds are they will get them, especially now the regular starting line-up has had a much needed rest to freshen them up.
CAMMELL LAIRD: Atherton K., Richards (Williams, 89), Robertson, Grogan, O’Brien, Atherton L. ©, Couch (Jones, 90), Potter, Henders, Gibiliru, Holt Subs (not used) Dysart, Riley
SKELMERSDALE UNITED: Burgess, Saleh (Hardwick, 63), Morning, Wright, McCartney, Strickland ©, Phenix, Griffiths (Woolcott, 73), Evans, Burnett, Hickey Subs (not used) Ashton, Hine, Hughes
Referee: P. Marsden
Attendance: 100
CAMMELL LAIRD 3 SKELMERSDALE UNITED 2
By Neil Leatherbarrow
Skelmersdale United rested almost a full team at Laird’s after the weekend’s celebrations and faced with a team that have the play-offs and hence promotion in their sights, the shadow players almost pulled off a great success. After twice equalising and looking the best team for most of the second-half it was only a defensive error two minutes from time that thwarted them.
Lairds took the lead in the seventh minute; Adam Morning playing in an unaccustomed number three shirt mistimed a tackle on Jamie Henders and the big striker slotted home the resulting penalty.
Dale Wright levelled on the quarter-hour with a goal that was worth the Mersey Tunnel Toll in itself. The big midfielder running onto a bouncing ball then looking up to see Laird’s goalkeeper Kevin Atherton slightly off his line before unleashing a dipping 35 yard shot that “whooshed” into the net.
The game became very close after Wright’s goal, both teams endeavouring to play football on the floor.
In the 37th minute Laird’s retook the lead. A poor defensive clearance putting the ball straight to Henders and it was then slipped sideways to the home team’s best player Joe Holt, who found the net from 15 yards out.
Skelmersdale came out after the break playing some attractive football and for the early part of the second 45 minutes forced Laird’s onto the back foot. Eventually a swift movement down the right saw the ball released across the home penalty area, from where Mike Phenix fired home a well-deserved equaliser in the 64th minute.
The game see-sawed in the latter stages and just when a draw looked the probable outcome another defensive slip by a Skelmersdale defence that had never played together proved a fatal one, the ball going directly to Henders, who finished well.
A makeshift team had played well for Skelmersdale and the management will have learnt plenty from the game, which was no doubt the intention. The long term target is now one hundred points for which they need four points from the last two games. The odds are they will get them, especially now the regular starting line-up has had a much needed rest to freshen them up.
CAMMELL LAIRD: Atherton K., Richards (Williams, 89), Robertson, Grogan, O’Brien, Atherton L. ©, Couch (Jones, 90), Potter, Henders, Gibiliru, Holt Subs (not used) Dysart, Riley
SKELMERSDALE UNITED: Burgess, Saleh (Hardwick, 63), Morning, Wright, McCartney, Strickland ©, Phenix, Griffiths (Woolcott, 73), Evans, Burnett, Hickey Subs (not used) Ashton, Hine, Hughes
Referee: P. Marsden
Attendance: 100