Post by Kev Panther on Oct 2, 2013 19:32:33 GMT
IMPROVED SKELMERSDALE UNLUCKY
TRAFFORD 2 SKELMERSDALE UNITED 0
By Neil Leatherbarrow
After Saturday’s FA Cup exit, Skelmersdale turned in a vastly improved performance at Shawe View and in the end didn’t deserve to lose. Trafford entered the game after a huge FA Cup victory over neighbours Altrincham on Saturday and on recent form started strong favourites.
The first-half for the most part was an evenly matched affair with both teams eager to counterattack quickly. Trafford went close after around a minute, then a minute later Skelmersdale did the same, Matty Hughes having a shot blocked after Kevin Leadbetter set him up with a swift dash down the left.
At the midway point, Leadbetter had a shot saved by Trafford goalkeeper Kieran O’Hara before Rob McIntosh put a snapshot wide after a free-kick.
Trafford had their moments too. A Shelton Payne free-kick missed the target and Michael Oates was a permanent nuisance to the Skelmersdale defence.
Trafford got the break in the 37th minute and it was yet another counterattack that brought about the goal. Oates took the ball from halfway and got the retreating Skelmersdale defenders on the back-foot, he then prodded the ball through to Omar McKenzie and he finished well from an angle via the crossbar.
There was no need for worry from a Skelmersdale outlook they were well in the game, but goalkeeper Zac Hibbert did have to make one good save just before the interval to keep Oates out.
In the 47th minute after a foul on Ashley Dunn, Tom Hardwick headed the ball down and goalkeeper O’Hara made a superb intervention to prevent the ball reaching Nick Rogan, who had the goal otherwise at his mercy. Then in the 53rd minute a sweeping overlap by Skelmersdale left-back Shaun Holden brought a fine reaction save from O’Hara with his foot.
The best was still to come though as O’Hara had to dive full length to his left to palm away a McIntosh header that was thundering toward the far corner.
Arguably weathering this period of intense Skelmersdale pressure won Trafford the match as Skelmersdale could easily have had at least two goals.
Gradually the game became more open again. McKenzie shot over the Skelmersdale crossbar after a run by Payne then Steve Mason hit the Skelmersdale bar after Hibbert saved from Oates. However down the other end Adam Morning saw his goalbound shot bravely blocked.
Skelmersdale committed more and more players into attack, Alan Burton and Dale Wright both being thwarted. So, although it was completely against the run of play, it is a risk you take when chasing an equaliser and Trafford scored a second in the 86th minute, Payne striking the killer blow.
After the game Skelmersdale manager Tommy Lawson said; “The players bounced back well after Saturday, we just had no luck tonight, I thought we deserved to win on that second-half performance.”
TRAFFORD: O’Hara, Mason, Lacy (Mbalanda, 75), Bayunu ©, Schofield (Palmer, 21), Payne, Andrews, Oates, Fallon, McKenzie (Parker, 67) Subs (not used) Anderson, Whight
SKELMERSDALE UNITED: Hibbert, Strickland, Holden, Hardwick ©, McIntosh, Dunn, Hughes, Burton, Rogan (Wright, 51), Leadbetter (Wylie, 70), Holt (Morning, 63) Subs (not used) Simpson, Short
Referee: C. Isherwood (Leyland)
Attendance: 185
TRAFFORD 2 SKELMERSDALE UNITED 0
By Neil Leatherbarrow
After Saturday’s FA Cup exit, Skelmersdale turned in a vastly improved performance at Shawe View and in the end didn’t deserve to lose. Trafford entered the game after a huge FA Cup victory over neighbours Altrincham on Saturday and on recent form started strong favourites.
The first-half for the most part was an evenly matched affair with both teams eager to counterattack quickly. Trafford went close after around a minute, then a minute later Skelmersdale did the same, Matty Hughes having a shot blocked after Kevin Leadbetter set him up with a swift dash down the left.
At the midway point, Leadbetter had a shot saved by Trafford goalkeeper Kieran O’Hara before Rob McIntosh put a snapshot wide after a free-kick.
Trafford had their moments too. A Shelton Payne free-kick missed the target and Michael Oates was a permanent nuisance to the Skelmersdale defence.
Trafford got the break in the 37th minute and it was yet another counterattack that brought about the goal. Oates took the ball from halfway and got the retreating Skelmersdale defenders on the back-foot, he then prodded the ball through to Omar McKenzie and he finished well from an angle via the crossbar.
There was no need for worry from a Skelmersdale outlook they were well in the game, but goalkeeper Zac Hibbert did have to make one good save just before the interval to keep Oates out.
In the 47th minute after a foul on Ashley Dunn, Tom Hardwick headed the ball down and goalkeeper O’Hara made a superb intervention to prevent the ball reaching Nick Rogan, who had the goal otherwise at his mercy. Then in the 53rd minute a sweeping overlap by Skelmersdale left-back Shaun Holden brought a fine reaction save from O’Hara with his foot.
The best was still to come though as O’Hara had to dive full length to his left to palm away a McIntosh header that was thundering toward the far corner.
Arguably weathering this period of intense Skelmersdale pressure won Trafford the match as Skelmersdale could easily have had at least two goals.
Gradually the game became more open again. McKenzie shot over the Skelmersdale crossbar after a run by Payne then Steve Mason hit the Skelmersdale bar after Hibbert saved from Oates. However down the other end Adam Morning saw his goalbound shot bravely blocked.
Skelmersdale committed more and more players into attack, Alan Burton and Dale Wright both being thwarted. So, although it was completely against the run of play, it is a risk you take when chasing an equaliser and Trafford scored a second in the 86th minute, Payne striking the killer blow.
After the game Skelmersdale manager Tommy Lawson said; “The players bounced back well after Saturday, we just had no luck tonight, I thought we deserved to win on that second-half performance.”
TRAFFORD: O’Hara, Mason, Lacy (Mbalanda, 75), Bayunu ©, Schofield (Palmer, 21), Payne, Andrews, Oates, Fallon, McKenzie (Parker, 67) Subs (not used) Anderson, Whight
SKELMERSDALE UNITED: Hibbert, Strickland, Holden, Hardwick ©, McIntosh, Dunn, Hughes, Burton, Rogan (Wright, 51), Leadbetter (Wylie, 70), Holt (Morning, 63) Subs (not used) Simpson, Short
Referee: C. Isherwood (Leyland)
Attendance: 185