Post by Kev Panther on Nov 12, 2013 19:28:03 GMT
SKELMERSDALE LEFT CURSING DESPITE NETTING THREE
FRICKLEY ATHLETIC 4 SKELMERSDALE UNITED 3
By Neil Leatherbarrow
It is not often in football that you score three times and have nothing to show for your efforts, that is what happened to Skelmersdale at Westfield Lane, Tommy Lawson’s men were 3-0 down at the interval and for most of the second-half the money was on them saving the game as they roared back at the pitmen, until a 79th minute counterattack made the mountain too high to climb, just.
The tone of the game was set after just 24 seconds. Skelmersdale’s Tom Hardwick put the ball over the top of the Frickley defence, releasing Shaun Tuck who lifted the ball over advancing home goalkeeper Tom Woodhead, only to see the ball drop agonisingly the wrong side of the crossbar.
Three minutes later Tuck was away again, this time Woodhead, who was arguably man of the match made a tremendous reaction save from the striker’s point blank effort.
In the sixth minute, instead of leading Skelmersdale found themselves behind. A free-kick was floated in from the right and home number five Sam Denton got his head to the ball lofting it into the Skelmersdale net from fully 15 yards out for a remarkable finish.
Frickley then had their best spell of the match and for fifteen minutes were on top, Gavin Allott put a header over the crossbar then brought a save out of Zack Hibbert, before Luke Hinsley put a loose ball wide of the goal.
Just when Skelmersdale looked to have overcome Frickley’s best efforts, the home team struck, Allott cut in from the left and netted via a ferocious shot to make it 2-0.
Skelmersdale took control again and Woodhead made another top class save from Tuck, before right on the stroke of half-time, the ball sat perfectly for Jake Picton, who was able to side-foot into the Skelmersdale net from 20 yards out.
Skelmersdale went off licking their wounds, it was as if everything Frickley hit went into the net and everything Skelmersdale hit just wouldn’t.
After six minutes of the second-half Skelmersdale did find the net. Matty Hughes sprinted down the right and crossed deep to the far post; Tuck ran in and headed home from about 6 feet.
In the 57th minute it was 3-2. Peter Wylie started a move around the halfway line and carried on with a forward run, the ball was sent back into his path on the edge of the penalty area and he fired it low across Woodhead into the net.
There was still thirty three minutes left and it was justifiable to think that Skelmersdale were going to get rewarded.
Dean Astbury saw an effort go across the face of goal and Woodhead again thwarted Tuck, Hughes was having lumps kicked out of him on the right but he was still tormenting the home defence. The signs were more than promising.
In the 79th minute Frickley broke away down the left and the ball was delivered high to far post, Allott got above everyone and headed home to make it 4-2.
Skelmersdale didn’t give up, in the 85th minute Woodhead could only parry an Astbury shot and Joe Holt nipped in to score.
The remainder of the game was like a kid’s game of “Attacking defence.” Skelmersdale put wave after wave of attacks at the home goal, the Frickley defenders fell deeper and deeper. There was a loud appeal for a penalty after a challenge on Kevin Leadbetter, but Frickley survived, by the skin of their teeth.
Life is tougher for Skelmersdale in the higher division, but sitting second in the table no one can argue as to whether they are up to it. Frickley showed that they are a good team too, the teams have met twice this season and have generated twelve goals between them over the two games. Despite this result, Skelmersdale are challenging again for honours.
FRICKLEY ATHLETIC: Woodhead, Wilcox, Gardner, Picton, Denton, Villerman, Fox, Bloor © (Kenny, 73), Hinsley, Allott, Ghaichem (Oniama, 64) Subs (not used) Fearon, Jeffs, Stratford
SKELMERSDALE UNITED: Hibbert (McMahon, 36), Wylie, Ince, Hardwick ©, Burton, Dunn, Hughes, Jackson (Flood, 51), Tuck, Astbury, Holt (Leadbetter, 85) Subs (not used) Morning, Ahmadi
Referee: Matt McGrath (Hull)
Attendance: 190
FRICKLEY ATHLETIC 4 SKELMERSDALE UNITED 3
By Neil Leatherbarrow
It is not often in football that you score three times and have nothing to show for your efforts, that is what happened to Skelmersdale at Westfield Lane, Tommy Lawson’s men were 3-0 down at the interval and for most of the second-half the money was on them saving the game as they roared back at the pitmen, until a 79th minute counterattack made the mountain too high to climb, just.
The tone of the game was set after just 24 seconds. Skelmersdale’s Tom Hardwick put the ball over the top of the Frickley defence, releasing Shaun Tuck who lifted the ball over advancing home goalkeeper Tom Woodhead, only to see the ball drop agonisingly the wrong side of the crossbar.
Three minutes later Tuck was away again, this time Woodhead, who was arguably man of the match made a tremendous reaction save from the striker’s point blank effort.
In the sixth minute, instead of leading Skelmersdale found themselves behind. A free-kick was floated in from the right and home number five Sam Denton got his head to the ball lofting it into the Skelmersdale net from fully 15 yards out for a remarkable finish.
Frickley then had their best spell of the match and for fifteen minutes were on top, Gavin Allott put a header over the crossbar then brought a save out of Zack Hibbert, before Luke Hinsley put a loose ball wide of the goal.
Just when Skelmersdale looked to have overcome Frickley’s best efforts, the home team struck, Allott cut in from the left and netted via a ferocious shot to make it 2-0.
Skelmersdale took control again and Woodhead made another top class save from Tuck, before right on the stroke of half-time, the ball sat perfectly for Jake Picton, who was able to side-foot into the Skelmersdale net from 20 yards out.
Skelmersdale went off licking their wounds, it was as if everything Frickley hit went into the net and everything Skelmersdale hit just wouldn’t.
After six minutes of the second-half Skelmersdale did find the net. Matty Hughes sprinted down the right and crossed deep to the far post; Tuck ran in and headed home from about 6 feet.
In the 57th minute it was 3-2. Peter Wylie started a move around the halfway line and carried on with a forward run, the ball was sent back into his path on the edge of the penalty area and he fired it low across Woodhead into the net.
There was still thirty three minutes left and it was justifiable to think that Skelmersdale were going to get rewarded.
Dean Astbury saw an effort go across the face of goal and Woodhead again thwarted Tuck, Hughes was having lumps kicked out of him on the right but he was still tormenting the home defence. The signs were more than promising.
In the 79th minute Frickley broke away down the left and the ball was delivered high to far post, Allott got above everyone and headed home to make it 4-2.
Skelmersdale didn’t give up, in the 85th minute Woodhead could only parry an Astbury shot and Joe Holt nipped in to score.
The remainder of the game was like a kid’s game of “Attacking defence.” Skelmersdale put wave after wave of attacks at the home goal, the Frickley defenders fell deeper and deeper. There was a loud appeal for a penalty after a challenge on Kevin Leadbetter, but Frickley survived, by the skin of their teeth.
Life is tougher for Skelmersdale in the higher division, but sitting second in the table no one can argue as to whether they are up to it. Frickley showed that they are a good team too, the teams have met twice this season and have generated twelve goals between them over the two games. Despite this result, Skelmersdale are challenging again for honours.
FRICKLEY ATHLETIC: Woodhead, Wilcox, Gardner, Picton, Denton, Villerman, Fox, Bloor © (Kenny, 73), Hinsley, Allott, Ghaichem (Oniama, 64) Subs (not used) Fearon, Jeffs, Stratford
SKELMERSDALE UNITED: Hibbert (McMahon, 36), Wylie, Ince, Hardwick ©, Burton, Dunn, Hughes, Jackson (Flood, 51), Tuck, Astbury, Holt (Leadbetter, 85) Subs (not used) Morning, Ahmadi
Referee: Matt McGrath (Hull)
Attendance: 190