Post by Kev Panther on Oct 16, 2013 15:01:01 GMT
SKELMERSDALE BACK TOP OF THE HEAP
FC UNITED OF MANCHESTER 1 SKELMERSDALE UNITED 3
By Neil Leatherbarrow
Skelmersdale United went back to top position in the Evo-Stik Premier Division with a magnificent victory at Gigg Lane over the biggest supported club in their division. Skelmersdale produced some solid defending but more significantly they hit FC United hard on the counterattack and gave them a real lesson in how to win a game.
The opening goal was simplicity in style yet devastating in its effect. A lovely ball down the left found Adam Morning who released overlapping left-back Shaun Holden down the line, he crossed into the heart of the penalty area and Alan Burton ran in and put a well-aimed header just inside the post and well away from a stunned FC United goalkeeper Jon Worsnop.
FC United were having more of the possession but were getting precisely nowhere as a Skelmersdale defence in which Peter Wylie was outstanding completely smothered their best efforts and Skelmersdale always looked the more likely to score.
In the 14th minute when Worsnop made a brave dive at Shaun Tuck’s feet to thwart the striker it was so close to two.
Skelmersdale goalkeeper Zac Hibbert made a smart save from Matthew Wolfenden in the 25th minute and Wylie cleared any ensuing danger. However, two minutes later it was 2-0. Matty Hughes cut inside from the right and played the ball to Morning and continued his run in a diagonal direction, Morning slipped the ball inside a home defender to Hughes and his finish was vicious.
The latter part of the first-half saw Skelmersdale in relative control; they were quicker to the ball and anything loose they swallowed up gratefully.
Before the interval only a desperate last ditch tackle kept Tuck out after Dean Astbury had tormented the home defence, then with Astbury seemingly clean in on goal he was clearly tripped by Chris Worsley, nothing was given at all, but Worsley limped off injured never to return.
Just before half-time Worsley’s replacement Sergio Rodriguez put a dreadful tackle in on Skelmersdale midfielder Alan Burton. Rodriguez received a yellow card, but Burton was forced to limp off himself on the hour.
Within two minutes of the restart Skelmersdale killed off any hope FC United had of recovering with another spectacular strike. Tuck flicked a through ball onto Astbury and his strike partner sent a left-foot shot roaring across Worsnop into the far corner.
FC United were now desperate but they struggled against a well organised Skelmersdale and the more they pressed the more Skelmersdale counterattacked and but for a good save from Worsnop Ashley Dunn would have made it 4-0.
Former Skelmersdale player Matt Walwyn did give Skelmersdale one scare in the 56th minute and Skelmersdale had a one off bit of luck when he hit the outside of the post. But even that bit of luck evened up when on the hour Astbury hit the FC United crossbar with another left-foot effort that left Worsnop a spectator.
Skelmersdale weathered one more storm when the ball was cleared after and almighty scramble in the 64th minute, but from there on the hosts were mostly kept at arm’s length.
Eventually FC United did pull one back but by the time Walwyn found the net for them the game was into the last ten minutes and really they never seriously looked likely to pull three goals back.
After the game Skelmersdale manager Tommy Lawson viewed the game via a boxing analogy when he said; “It was like “Rope a Dope” (referring to the Ali v Foreman fight in the 1970’s), we let them come on to us and just picked them off. They completely ran out of ideas to break us down.” Seldom have I seen a Skelmersdale side so motivated, but an off the field incident before the match had much to do with that and worked in Skelmersdale’s favour.
FC UNITED OF MANCHESTER: Worsnop, Brownhill, Daniels, Stott ©, Davies, Neville, Wolfenden, Worsley (Walwyn, 34), Norton, Wright (Rodriguez, 38), Mulholland (Greaves, 60) Subs (not used) Byrne, Pearson
SKELMERSDALE UNITED: Hibbert, Strickland ©, Holden, Wylie, McIntosh, Dunn, Hughes, Burton ((Hardwick, 60), Astbury (Leadbetter, 88), Tuck, Morning Subs (not used) Holt, Simpson, McMahon
Referee: Ian Johnston (Yorkshire)
Attendance: 1,429
