Post by Kev Panther on Aug 21, 2013 18:33:02 GMT
SKELMERSDALE GOOD VALUE FOR OPENING THREE POINTS
SKELMERSDALE UNITED 2 NANTWICH TOWN 1
By Neil Leatherbarrow
Skelmersdale United got their home record off to a winning start against the men from Cheshire. After an even opening period Tommy Lawson’s side gradually got the upper hand, established an interval lead, increased it after the restart, and then held on nicely to bag the three points.
The game was close and tight early on, with neither team risking too much. Skelmersdale’s Chris Luby put a header just off target after some good work down the right by Kevin Leadbetter in the 4th minute, while down at the Clubhouse End. Nantwich forward Harry Clayton saw his shot dealt with by Skelmersdale goalkeeper Zac Hibbert.
Skelmersdale started to get more of the possession as the game went on, with Ashley Dunn and Alan Burton getting a grip on the middle of the pitch. Dunn had a header saved by Nantwich keeper Luke Simpson then Matty Hughes threatened after keeper Simpson fumbled a Kenny Strickland free-kick.
Skelmersdale started to control matters during the ten minutes before half-time and but for a great clearance by Russ Courtney, Luby would have had a great chance to give United the lead.
In the 43rd minute, Nantwich defender Earl Davis got tempted out of his safety zone in the middle, his clumsy challenge on Luby bringing about a free-kick on the left side. Strickland went over to take it and after some deliberation with Leadbetter, he thundered a skimming shot at goal, Simpson couldn’t reach it and Skelmersdale had a 1-0 advantage to take into the dressing room with them, Strickland earning his Prince William Inn Man of the Match award.
Skelmersdale started the second period well and Joe Holt was fractions away from converting a cross from the right-wing in the 47th minute.
In the 56th minute, Skelmersdale were thwarted by a bit of professionalism by the Nantwich keeper. Luby was put clear in the centre and Simpson came out to meet him just outside the penalty area, Luby nipped the ball past him and Simpson left a foot in, Luby staggered around it and referee Joe Holt gave an advantage signal. The problem was Simpson’s foul intervention had pushed the ball and Luby onto a very acute angle on goal and there was no advantage for the striker. The ball was cleared, no free-kick was given and quite astoundingly Simpson escaped without any censure at all.
The game gradually tightened up again, Nantwich had to press for an equaliser and Skelmersdale went more defensive relying more on fast counterattacks for their goal threat. In one of these breaks Shaun Holden stung Simpson’s hands enough with one shot that the keeper was forced to scramble around to grab the ball.
Skelmersdale were fending Nantwich off well and only a powerful shot from Mark Jones troubled Hibbert as he parried away the initial effort and forced Clayton to put the rebound well off target.
Tommy Lawson brought on Gary Burnett to liven up his attacking options and it worked a treat. In the 82nd minute, Leadbetter fed him the ball and after holding it up, Burnett cleverly created a shooting angle then fired a textbook shot low across Simpson and into the far corner from 22 yards out to make it 2-0.
Nantwich then had to commit everything into attack and they got lucky in the 88th minute. A deflection put Aaron Burns one on one with Hibbert, but heading into the corner of the penalty area, Burns went down and a penalty was awarded. Burns thumped home the spot-kick himself.
The last few minutes became a little frantic but both teams could have scored, first Burnett was kept out by Simpson, then Nantwich substitute Chris Amadi created a bit of chaos in the Skelmersdale area that was cleaned up by the reliable Tom Hardwick.
SKELMERSDALE: Hibbert, Strickland, Holden, Hardwick ©, Wylie, Dunn, Hughes, Burton (Wright, 90), Luby (Burnett, 75), Leadbetter, Holt Subs (not used) Simpson M., McKinty, Short
NANTWICH TOWN: Simpson M., Frost ©, White (Wilson- Egerton, 81), Young (Devanney, 81), Davis, Courtney, Carden, Jones, Burns, Clayton (Amadi, 72) Harrop Subs (not used) McGuire, Lambert
Referee: Joe Hull Attendance: 221
SKELMERSDALE UNITED 2 NANTWICH TOWN 1
By Neil Leatherbarrow
Skelmersdale United got their home record off to a winning start against the men from Cheshire. After an even opening period Tommy Lawson’s side gradually got the upper hand, established an interval lead, increased it after the restart, and then held on nicely to bag the three points.
The game was close and tight early on, with neither team risking too much. Skelmersdale’s Chris Luby put a header just off target after some good work down the right by Kevin Leadbetter in the 4th minute, while down at the Clubhouse End. Nantwich forward Harry Clayton saw his shot dealt with by Skelmersdale goalkeeper Zac Hibbert.
Skelmersdale started to get more of the possession as the game went on, with Ashley Dunn and Alan Burton getting a grip on the middle of the pitch. Dunn had a header saved by Nantwich keeper Luke Simpson then Matty Hughes threatened after keeper Simpson fumbled a Kenny Strickland free-kick.
Skelmersdale started to control matters during the ten minutes before half-time and but for a great clearance by Russ Courtney, Luby would have had a great chance to give United the lead.
In the 43rd minute, Nantwich defender Earl Davis got tempted out of his safety zone in the middle, his clumsy challenge on Luby bringing about a free-kick on the left side. Strickland went over to take it and after some deliberation with Leadbetter, he thundered a skimming shot at goal, Simpson couldn’t reach it and Skelmersdale had a 1-0 advantage to take into the dressing room with them, Strickland earning his Prince William Inn Man of the Match award.
Skelmersdale started the second period well and Joe Holt was fractions away from converting a cross from the right-wing in the 47th minute.
In the 56th minute, Skelmersdale were thwarted by a bit of professionalism by the Nantwich keeper. Luby was put clear in the centre and Simpson came out to meet him just outside the penalty area, Luby nipped the ball past him and Simpson left a foot in, Luby staggered around it and referee Joe Holt gave an advantage signal. The problem was Simpson’s foul intervention had pushed the ball and Luby onto a very acute angle on goal and there was no advantage for the striker. The ball was cleared, no free-kick was given and quite astoundingly Simpson escaped without any censure at all.
The game gradually tightened up again, Nantwich had to press for an equaliser and Skelmersdale went more defensive relying more on fast counterattacks for their goal threat. In one of these breaks Shaun Holden stung Simpson’s hands enough with one shot that the keeper was forced to scramble around to grab the ball.
Skelmersdale were fending Nantwich off well and only a powerful shot from Mark Jones troubled Hibbert as he parried away the initial effort and forced Clayton to put the rebound well off target.
Tommy Lawson brought on Gary Burnett to liven up his attacking options and it worked a treat. In the 82nd minute, Leadbetter fed him the ball and after holding it up, Burnett cleverly created a shooting angle then fired a textbook shot low across Simpson and into the far corner from 22 yards out to make it 2-0.
Nantwich then had to commit everything into attack and they got lucky in the 88th minute. A deflection put Aaron Burns one on one with Hibbert, but heading into the corner of the penalty area, Burns went down and a penalty was awarded. Burns thumped home the spot-kick himself.
The last few minutes became a little frantic but both teams could have scored, first Burnett was kept out by Simpson, then Nantwich substitute Chris Amadi created a bit of chaos in the Skelmersdale area that was cleaned up by the reliable Tom Hardwick.
SKELMERSDALE: Hibbert, Strickland, Holden, Hardwick ©, Wylie, Dunn, Hughes, Burton (Wright, 90), Luby (Burnett, 75), Leadbetter, Holt Subs (not used) Simpson M., McKinty, Short
NANTWICH TOWN: Simpson M., Frost ©, White (Wilson- Egerton, 81), Young (Devanney, 81), Davis, Courtney, Carden, Jones, Burns, Clayton (Amadi, 72) Harrop Subs (not used) McGuire, Lambert
Referee: Joe Hull Attendance: 221