Post by Kev Panther on Apr 29, 2014 18:36:50 GMT
SKELMERSDALE FINISH WITH A FLOURISH
STOCKSBRIDGE PARK STEELS 0 SKELMERSDALE UNITED 4
By Neil Leatherbarrow
Skelmersdale United visited the quaintly named Bracken Moor Lane on the northern outskirts of Sheffield first the first time in a league encounter and enjoyed a pleasant day in the sun. Tommy Lawson’s side not only bringing home a comfortably won three points, but due to a surprise elsewhere advancing their finishing league position to sixth in the process.
After the injury crisis Skelmersdale have suffered in recent weeks, you could say it was ironic that Tommy was able to finish the season with a couple of players back from lay-offs and it made a difference in the eleventh minute. Youngster Connor McCarthy gathered the ball in the centre-circle; advanced, played a one two with Mark Jackson then slotted the ball past Stocksbridge goalkeeper Jack Ward to give Skelmersdale the lead.
Three minutes later McCarthy almost repeated the act but saw his powerful drive, fisted away by Ward and he later had another goalbound shot blocked in the 27th minute.
It was all action McCarthy that was one of the instigators of Skelmersdale’s second goal in the 35th minute. Tom Ince set McCarthy up with a flick, his shot hit the crossbar and Danny Greene followed up to finish clinically. The goal by 17 year old Greene was one that brought about a family celebration; he is the Grandson of Skelmersdale legend Eddie Moss, who along with his brother Ronnie terrorised defences in the early 1960’s, many of the well-known coal merchant family were at the game too, so witnessed the historic moment.
Skelmersdale were now in devastating form and in the 37th minute put the result beyond reasonable doubt with a sweeping move. The ball was swiftly moved down the right, while left-back Shaun Holden made ground down the left, the ball was switched across the pitch to Holden, who ran on, shot at goal, saw the ball blocked, but responded by tucking away the rebound for his first goal in two seasons.
The second-half saw Skelmersdale in charge, though the hosts looked lively on the counterattack.
Ward saved from McCarthy with his feet, then McCarthy set up Ashley Dunn, but his shot went wide. Skelmersdale continued to press and in the 67th minute, Holden got his second and Skelmersdale’s fourth. Running into acres of space on the left, he unleashed a blistering shot that left goalkeeper Ward no chance at all.
Stocksbridge didn’t give up and for them Andy Ring wasted a good opportunity and Matt Hamshaw hit the Skelmersdale crossbar with a chip. In between the chances Ward made another great save, this time to thwart Ince.
Holden was having a field day and with the last kick of Skelmersdale’s season almost completed the most unlikely of hat-tricks, his shot was cleared off the Stocksbridge goal-line, but before the rebound could be pounced on the full-time whistle on the season blew.
STOCKSBRIDGE PARK STEELS: Ward, Banton, Turner B., Lucas (Royles, 60), Bowden-Lovell, Telling ©, Hamshaw, Lipka (Callery, 45), Smith (Cadzow, 60), Ring, Knowles Subs (not used) Haigh, Schofield
SKELMERSDALE UNITED: Hibbert, Strickland, Holden, Hardwick ©, Wylie (O’Reilly, 45), Dunn, Greene (Miller, 60), Burton, Jackson (Paxton, 86), McCarthy, Ince Subs (not used) McIntosh, Field
Referee: M. Donohue (Stockport)
Attendance: 108
STOCKSBRIDGE PARK STEELS 0 SKELMERSDALE UNITED 4
By Neil Leatherbarrow
Skelmersdale United visited the quaintly named Bracken Moor Lane on the northern outskirts of Sheffield first the first time in a league encounter and enjoyed a pleasant day in the sun. Tommy Lawson’s side not only bringing home a comfortably won three points, but due to a surprise elsewhere advancing their finishing league position to sixth in the process.
After the injury crisis Skelmersdale have suffered in recent weeks, you could say it was ironic that Tommy was able to finish the season with a couple of players back from lay-offs and it made a difference in the eleventh minute. Youngster Connor McCarthy gathered the ball in the centre-circle; advanced, played a one two with Mark Jackson then slotted the ball past Stocksbridge goalkeeper Jack Ward to give Skelmersdale the lead.
Three minutes later McCarthy almost repeated the act but saw his powerful drive, fisted away by Ward and he later had another goalbound shot blocked in the 27th minute.
It was all action McCarthy that was one of the instigators of Skelmersdale’s second goal in the 35th minute. Tom Ince set McCarthy up with a flick, his shot hit the crossbar and Danny Greene followed up to finish clinically. The goal by 17 year old Greene was one that brought about a family celebration; he is the Grandson of Skelmersdale legend Eddie Moss, who along with his brother Ronnie terrorised defences in the early 1960’s, many of the well-known coal merchant family were at the game too, so witnessed the historic moment.
Skelmersdale were now in devastating form and in the 37th minute put the result beyond reasonable doubt with a sweeping move. The ball was swiftly moved down the right, while left-back Shaun Holden made ground down the left, the ball was switched across the pitch to Holden, who ran on, shot at goal, saw the ball blocked, but responded by tucking away the rebound for his first goal in two seasons.
The second-half saw Skelmersdale in charge, though the hosts looked lively on the counterattack.
Ward saved from McCarthy with his feet, then McCarthy set up Ashley Dunn, but his shot went wide. Skelmersdale continued to press and in the 67th minute, Holden got his second and Skelmersdale’s fourth. Running into acres of space on the left, he unleashed a blistering shot that left goalkeeper Ward no chance at all.
Stocksbridge didn’t give up and for them Andy Ring wasted a good opportunity and Matt Hamshaw hit the Skelmersdale crossbar with a chip. In between the chances Ward made another great save, this time to thwart Ince.
Holden was having a field day and with the last kick of Skelmersdale’s season almost completed the most unlikely of hat-tricks, his shot was cleared off the Stocksbridge goal-line, but before the rebound could be pounced on the full-time whistle on the season blew.
STOCKSBRIDGE PARK STEELS: Ward, Banton, Turner B., Lucas (Royles, 60), Bowden-Lovell, Telling ©, Hamshaw, Lipka (Callery, 45), Smith (Cadzow, 60), Ring, Knowles Subs (not used) Haigh, Schofield
SKELMERSDALE UNITED: Hibbert, Strickland, Holden, Hardwick ©, Wylie (O’Reilly, 45), Dunn, Greene (Miller, 60), Burton, Jackson (Paxton, 86), McCarthy, Ince Subs (not used) McIntosh, Field
Referee: M. Donohue (Stockport)
Attendance: 108