Post by Kev Panther on Apr 29, 2013 19:44:21 GMT
SKELMERSDALE EASE TO VICTORY AT BOROUGH
RADCLIFFE BOROUGH 0 SKELMERSDALE UNITED 2
By Neil Leatherbarrow
Tommy Lawson took his Championship winning side to North Manchester on Saturday, where they achieved a fairly comfortable victory that means they will finish at least eight points clear at the top of Evo-Stik Division One North.
Skelmersdale dominated the first-half at Stainton Park, forcing the home team into a defensive mode that they carried out quite well.
Josh Hine put a shot just wide in the second minute, and then Matty Hughes had an effort blocked in the 20th minute. As the spectators began to contemplate their half-time brew Skelmersdale went close again, home goalkeeper John Coates making a pair of excellent saves, first in the 42nd minute from Hine after Hughes set him up, then a minute later via a powerful Mark Jackson drive, that was turned away for a corner.
Now kicking down the considerable slope the hosts made a good start to the second period, Jake Pollard stabbing the ball wide of the United goal.
Skelmersdale’s reaction was to up the tempo and Hughes persistence on the right created chaos in the home backline; he drew Coates from his line then sent the ball across the home penalty area to Paul Woolcott, the Skelmersdale number eight coolly slotting the ball through two defenders on the goal line to give Skelmersdale a 55th minute lead.
Jackson found the net in the 57th minute but was rightly declared offside, after Hughes and Woolcott combined.
In the 63rd minute Skelmersdale scored what is arguably one of their best goals of the season. The build-up included a movement of at least 12 passes. Dale Wright and again Woolcott who was probably Skelmersdale’s man of the match were well involved, the latter pushing the ball through the home defence to Hine who after cleverly beating the offside trap, placed the ball low into the net.
A minute later Coates made another top class save to keep out Jackson, before in the latter stages Radcliffe made a move to chase the game, but all this did was allow Skelmersdale to play on the counterattack.
Sam Ashton made a couple of smart saves from Kevin Sanasy and Shaun Connor, while up the hill, Wright had a goalbound shot blocked and Hine hit the foot of the post.
The game was a measure of why Skelmersdale have taken the league title this season. In the past they have a rather mixed record at Radcliffe, but never at any time looked in danger of doing anything but winning. In the first-half they showed great patience and at the same time restricted any attacking intentions by Radcliffe. After the break when Radcliffe looked to snatch a goal, Skelmersdale just lifted the pace of the game and took it away from Radcliffe.
RADCLIFFE BOROUGH: Coates, Mullineux, Shaw, Carden (Parker, 50), Connor, Howson ©, Pollard, Baguley, Wharton, Sanasy, Freakes (Fitzgerald, 76), Sub (not used) Daniels
SKELMERSDALE UNITED: Ashton, Strickland, Holden, Hardwick ©, McIntosh, Wright, Hughes, Woolcott, Hine, Jackson (Phenix, 67), Morning (Hickey, 68) Subs (not used) Griffiths, Evans, Burnett
Referee: Ian Gittins
Attendance: 167
RADCLIFFE BOROUGH 0 SKELMERSDALE UNITED 2
By Neil Leatherbarrow
Tommy Lawson took his Championship winning side to North Manchester on Saturday, where they achieved a fairly comfortable victory that means they will finish at least eight points clear at the top of Evo-Stik Division One North.
Skelmersdale dominated the first-half at Stainton Park, forcing the home team into a defensive mode that they carried out quite well.
Josh Hine put a shot just wide in the second minute, and then Matty Hughes had an effort blocked in the 20th minute. As the spectators began to contemplate their half-time brew Skelmersdale went close again, home goalkeeper John Coates making a pair of excellent saves, first in the 42nd minute from Hine after Hughes set him up, then a minute later via a powerful Mark Jackson drive, that was turned away for a corner.
Now kicking down the considerable slope the hosts made a good start to the second period, Jake Pollard stabbing the ball wide of the United goal.
Skelmersdale’s reaction was to up the tempo and Hughes persistence on the right created chaos in the home backline; he drew Coates from his line then sent the ball across the home penalty area to Paul Woolcott, the Skelmersdale number eight coolly slotting the ball through two defenders on the goal line to give Skelmersdale a 55th minute lead.
Jackson found the net in the 57th minute but was rightly declared offside, after Hughes and Woolcott combined.
In the 63rd minute Skelmersdale scored what is arguably one of their best goals of the season. The build-up included a movement of at least 12 passes. Dale Wright and again Woolcott who was probably Skelmersdale’s man of the match were well involved, the latter pushing the ball through the home defence to Hine who after cleverly beating the offside trap, placed the ball low into the net.
A minute later Coates made another top class save to keep out Jackson, before in the latter stages Radcliffe made a move to chase the game, but all this did was allow Skelmersdale to play on the counterattack.
Sam Ashton made a couple of smart saves from Kevin Sanasy and Shaun Connor, while up the hill, Wright had a goalbound shot blocked and Hine hit the foot of the post.
The game was a measure of why Skelmersdale have taken the league title this season. In the past they have a rather mixed record at Radcliffe, but never at any time looked in danger of doing anything but winning. In the first-half they showed great patience and at the same time restricted any attacking intentions by Radcliffe. After the break when Radcliffe looked to snatch a goal, Skelmersdale just lifted the pace of the game and took it away from Radcliffe.
RADCLIFFE BOROUGH: Coates, Mullineux, Shaw, Carden (Parker, 50), Connor, Howson ©, Pollard, Baguley, Wharton, Sanasy, Freakes (Fitzgerald, 76), Sub (not used) Daniels
SKELMERSDALE UNITED: Ashton, Strickland, Holden, Hardwick ©, McIntosh, Wright, Hughes, Woolcott, Hine, Jackson (Phenix, 67), Morning (Hickey, 68) Subs (not used) Griffiths, Evans, Burnett
Referee: Ian Gittins
Attendance: 167