Post by Kev Panther on Mar 5, 2014 20:02:33 GMT
UNSTOPPABLE GOAL BEATS SKEM
MATLOCK TOWN 2 SKELMERSDALE UNITED 1
By Neil Leatherbarrow
Skelmersdale United will be glad they don’t have to go to Derbyshire again this season, they have visited the county three times and they have returned home empty handed each time.
A very motivated Matlock team started strongly and they went close via Danny Holland and Shaun Tuton in the early stages before Shaun Miller responded with a shot over the home crossbar.
In the 20th minute Matlock struck, a long ball bounced awkwardly and dropped to Tuton, who finished with a rasping shot into the bottom corner.
It was to be Tuton’s last contribution on the day and five minutes later he saw red after a challenge on Skelmersdale’s Peter Wylie, though in the end it was to be debateable as to whether the dismissal worked against Skelmersdale rather than for them.
Skelmersdale went on the offensive and it didn’t take long for them to equalise, Dean Astbury evading two defenders before firing low past home goalkeeper Jon Kennedy.
Chances were always going to be at a premium on the rough surface and before then interval Astbury went close twice more, first with a free-kick that went over the crossbar, then with a goalbound shot that was deflected wide.
The second-half saw Matlock greatly reorganised. The home team went to three defenders at the back and kept two men up top pressing the Skelmersdale defence, their brief obviously to prevent Skelmersdale building from the back.
Matlock won an early free-kick and Micky Harcourt saw his effort saved, down the other end Tom Ince couldn’t finish after a good build-up.
In the 62nd minute the first waning that it might be a frustrating afternoon for Skelmersdale emerged when a back-header from home left-back Joe Leesley hit his own post and then fell perfectly into goalkeeper Kennedy’s hands as a couple of Skelmersdale players were poised to pounce.
In the 74th minute, Matlock broke and scored after the ball was given away near the half-way line. The move initially developed down the left before the ball went to Holland with his back to goal about 22 yards out in a central position. The number nine turned and fired a rocket of a shot into the top corner of the Skelmersdale net, it was completely unstoppable.
After that it was a shut-out, literally. Matlock fell back onto the defensive and doggedly hung on. The pitch didn’t help as it was difficult to build anything substantial up, but Skelmersdale couldn’t find a way through.
There had only been a couple of chances in the whole game because the Matlock winner wasn’t so much a created opportunity as an inspired shot that came off spectacularly. Skelmersdale were perhaps unlucky to lose, but Matlock deserve real credit for the way they went about the game in an exceptionally spirited way, they are a team that could still make the play-offs.
MATLOCK TOWN: Kennedy, Harcourt, Leesley, Foster (Ashmore, 72), Haggerty, Radford, Needham ©, Yates, Holland (Gregory, 86), Tuton, White (Thomas, 60) Subs (not used) Bradshaw, Leese
SKELMERSDALE UNITED: Hibbert, Wylie (Morning, 81), Holden, Hardwick ©, Burton, Dunn, Miller (Field, 66) Prince, Astbury, Jackson (Simm, 60) Ince Subs (not used) Greene, O’Reilly
Referee: M. Donohue
Attendance: 367
MATLOCK TOWN 2 SKELMERSDALE UNITED 1
By Neil Leatherbarrow
Skelmersdale United will be glad they don’t have to go to Derbyshire again this season, they have visited the county three times and they have returned home empty handed each time.
A very motivated Matlock team started strongly and they went close via Danny Holland and Shaun Tuton in the early stages before Shaun Miller responded with a shot over the home crossbar.
In the 20th minute Matlock struck, a long ball bounced awkwardly and dropped to Tuton, who finished with a rasping shot into the bottom corner.
It was to be Tuton’s last contribution on the day and five minutes later he saw red after a challenge on Skelmersdale’s Peter Wylie, though in the end it was to be debateable as to whether the dismissal worked against Skelmersdale rather than for them.
Skelmersdale went on the offensive and it didn’t take long for them to equalise, Dean Astbury evading two defenders before firing low past home goalkeeper Jon Kennedy.
Chances were always going to be at a premium on the rough surface and before then interval Astbury went close twice more, first with a free-kick that went over the crossbar, then with a goalbound shot that was deflected wide.
The second-half saw Matlock greatly reorganised. The home team went to three defenders at the back and kept two men up top pressing the Skelmersdale defence, their brief obviously to prevent Skelmersdale building from the back.
Matlock won an early free-kick and Micky Harcourt saw his effort saved, down the other end Tom Ince couldn’t finish after a good build-up.
In the 62nd minute the first waning that it might be a frustrating afternoon for Skelmersdale emerged when a back-header from home left-back Joe Leesley hit his own post and then fell perfectly into goalkeeper Kennedy’s hands as a couple of Skelmersdale players were poised to pounce.
In the 74th minute, Matlock broke and scored after the ball was given away near the half-way line. The move initially developed down the left before the ball went to Holland with his back to goal about 22 yards out in a central position. The number nine turned and fired a rocket of a shot into the top corner of the Skelmersdale net, it was completely unstoppable.
After that it was a shut-out, literally. Matlock fell back onto the defensive and doggedly hung on. The pitch didn’t help as it was difficult to build anything substantial up, but Skelmersdale couldn’t find a way through.
There had only been a couple of chances in the whole game because the Matlock winner wasn’t so much a created opportunity as an inspired shot that came off spectacularly. Skelmersdale were perhaps unlucky to lose, but Matlock deserve real credit for the way they went about the game in an exceptionally spirited way, they are a team that could still make the play-offs.
MATLOCK TOWN: Kennedy, Harcourt, Leesley, Foster (Ashmore, 72), Haggerty, Radford, Needham ©, Yates, Holland (Gregory, 86), Tuton, White (Thomas, 60) Subs (not used) Bradshaw, Leese
SKELMERSDALE UNITED: Hibbert, Wylie (Morning, 81), Holden, Hardwick ©, Burton, Dunn, Miller (Field, 66) Prince, Astbury, Jackson (Simm, 60) Ince Subs (not used) Greene, O’Reilly
Referee: M. Donohue
Attendance: 367