Post by Kev Panther on Aug 4, 2013 8:38:05 GMT
THE TWO UNITED’S MAKE FOR SOME GREAT FOOTBALL
SKELMERSDALE UNITED 1 MANCHESTER UNITED XI 2
By Neil Leatherbarrow
The rain may have fallen on the great day that Manchester United came to Skelmersdale, but the crowd at the West Lancashire College Stadium did not witness a damp squib. The two teams producing a football display that sent everyone home happy despite Skelmersdale suffering a marginal reverse.
According to an Old Trafford official the same team the Red Devils put out at Stormy Corner was the same one that had drawn at League One side Stevenage Borough over the weekend with a different goalkeeper. So Skelmersdale should be proud of their performance on the night as they came close getting at least a draw themselves.
Manchester got off to a flying start as a third minute slip in the middle of the park allowed James Wilson to break clear and faced with Skelmersdale keeper Zac Hibbert he showed just why he is so highly thought of by calmly stroking the ball under Hibbert and into the net.
Skelmersdale responded well and Captain Tom Hardwick put a header just over the Manchester crossbar in the sixth minute. Followed in the eleventh minute by an audacious chip from livewire Skelmersdale number seven, Matty Hughes, which almost embarrassed Manchester keeper Jonny Sutherland the ball ending up fractionally off target.
A great run down the left by Jack Barmby created an opening from which Hibbert stunningly thwarted Wilson in the 21st minute. Down the other end a few minutes later Kevin Leadbetter put a thunderous effort just wide from distance.
In the 33rd minute a rare wayward pass saw the ball go to Manchester midfielder Ben Pearson, he released Wilson and although Hibbert pulled off another top-class parry, this time the ball ran to Jack Rudge who finished off clinically at the far post two make it 2-0.
Arguably Skelmersdale had the more possession after the interval and Hughes led the Skelmersdale charge with a 47th minute shot that brought a spectacular tip over the crossbar from Sutherland.
On the hour Hughes had what looked a goalbound effort deflected for a corner on the left, the Manchester defender receiving a couple of pats on the back from his team-mates for his rescue act. However, it was only a short lived reprieve as from the corner as from the corner Hardwick headed the ball down and Peter Wylie fired home from close range for a goal Skelmersdale thoroughly deserved.
Manchester almost made it three in the 64th minute. Although, there was a suspicion of offside about Fisayo Adarabioyo before he put his lob over Hibbert just wide.
In the last ten minutes Skelmersdale manager Tommy Lawson made changes, after all it was a great occasion and he couldn’t deny any of his players the opportunity to say “I played against Manchester United.”
The 81st minute brought a terrific move from Skelmersdale, Warren Bellew Gary Burnett and Hughes combining to sweep the ball left to right to Joe Holt, who was just kept at bay at the far post.
In the last moments Burnett tussled with Manchester centre-back Liam Grimshaw although the penalty appeals that followed were really hopeful rather than confident.
The two best players on the pitch were rightly awarded the 06 Vauxhall Man of the Match trophies for their respective teams, Hughes of Skelmersdale and Pearson of Manchester. It crowned a great evening’s football.
SKELMERSDALE UNITED: Hibbert, Strickland, Holden (Kennedy, 88), Hardwick ©, Wylie, Wright, Hughes (87, Gaskell), Burton (Simpson, 70), Luby (Burnett, 56), Leadbetter (Bellew, 75), Holt (McKinty, 84)
MANCHESTER UNITED: Sutherland, Weir, Rowley, McNair (Love, 14), Grimshaw ©, Pearson, Rudge, Rothwell, Wilson (Adarabioyo, 45), Byrne (Fletcher A., 63), Barmby (Harrop, 73) Subs (not used) Henderson, Goss
Referee: Ian Hussin
SKELMERSDALE UNITED 1 MANCHESTER UNITED XI 2
By Neil Leatherbarrow
The rain may have fallen on the great day that Manchester United came to Skelmersdale, but the crowd at the West Lancashire College Stadium did not witness a damp squib. The two teams producing a football display that sent everyone home happy despite Skelmersdale suffering a marginal reverse.
According to an Old Trafford official the same team the Red Devils put out at Stormy Corner was the same one that had drawn at League One side Stevenage Borough over the weekend with a different goalkeeper. So Skelmersdale should be proud of their performance on the night as they came close getting at least a draw themselves.
Manchester got off to a flying start as a third minute slip in the middle of the park allowed James Wilson to break clear and faced with Skelmersdale keeper Zac Hibbert he showed just why he is so highly thought of by calmly stroking the ball under Hibbert and into the net.
Skelmersdale responded well and Captain Tom Hardwick put a header just over the Manchester crossbar in the sixth minute. Followed in the eleventh minute by an audacious chip from livewire Skelmersdale number seven, Matty Hughes, which almost embarrassed Manchester keeper Jonny Sutherland the ball ending up fractionally off target.
A great run down the left by Jack Barmby created an opening from which Hibbert stunningly thwarted Wilson in the 21st minute. Down the other end a few minutes later Kevin Leadbetter put a thunderous effort just wide from distance.
In the 33rd minute a rare wayward pass saw the ball go to Manchester midfielder Ben Pearson, he released Wilson and although Hibbert pulled off another top-class parry, this time the ball ran to Jack Rudge who finished off clinically at the far post two make it 2-0.
Arguably Skelmersdale had the more possession after the interval and Hughes led the Skelmersdale charge with a 47th minute shot that brought a spectacular tip over the crossbar from Sutherland.
On the hour Hughes had what looked a goalbound effort deflected for a corner on the left, the Manchester defender receiving a couple of pats on the back from his team-mates for his rescue act. However, it was only a short lived reprieve as from the corner as from the corner Hardwick headed the ball down and Peter Wylie fired home from close range for a goal Skelmersdale thoroughly deserved.
Manchester almost made it three in the 64th minute. Although, there was a suspicion of offside about Fisayo Adarabioyo before he put his lob over Hibbert just wide.
In the last ten minutes Skelmersdale manager Tommy Lawson made changes, after all it was a great occasion and he couldn’t deny any of his players the opportunity to say “I played against Manchester United.”
The 81st minute brought a terrific move from Skelmersdale, Warren Bellew Gary Burnett and Hughes combining to sweep the ball left to right to Joe Holt, who was just kept at bay at the far post.
In the last moments Burnett tussled with Manchester centre-back Liam Grimshaw although the penalty appeals that followed were really hopeful rather than confident.
The two best players on the pitch were rightly awarded the 06 Vauxhall Man of the Match trophies for their respective teams, Hughes of Skelmersdale and Pearson of Manchester. It crowned a great evening’s football.
SKELMERSDALE UNITED: Hibbert, Strickland, Holden (Kennedy, 88), Hardwick ©, Wylie, Wright, Hughes (87, Gaskell), Burton (Simpson, 70), Luby (Burnett, 56), Leadbetter (Bellew, 75), Holt (McKinty, 84)
MANCHESTER UNITED: Sutherland, Weir, Rowley, McNair (Love, 14), Grimshaw ©, Pearson, Rudge, Rothwell, Wilson (Adarabioyo, 45), Byrne (Fletcher A., 63), Barmby (Harrop, 73) Subs (not used) Henderson, Goss
Referee: Ian Hussin