Post by Kev Panther on Sept 17, 2014 18:54:52 GMT
SKELMERSDALE JUST EDGED OUT AT CURZON
CURZON ASHTON 2 SKELMERSDALE UNITED 0
By Neil Leatherbarrow
But for the width of a crossbar and a superb save from a goalkeeper who has seen European nights with Liverpool, Skelmersdale United would very likely have retained their nine game unbeaten start to the season. But having gone a goal down in the 12th minute, they were thwarted in the fight back, before conceding a rather unique late goal that gave the game a bit of a lop-sided look about it.
The game licked-off on a pitch that had been highly watered for at least two hours before the game and the hosts certainly knew how to use it. Zipping the ball about quickly and making the Skelmersdale defence turn as often as possible, the threat being highlighted by a dangerous ball across the face of the Skelmersdale goal by Matt Warburton in the 6th minute.
Skelmersdale broke away in the 8th minute and only a rather cynical challenge from home defender Jonathon Hunt that brought a yellow card prevented Connor McCarthy.
In the 12th minute, the crucial opening goal went to Curzon. Initially Skelmersdale goalkeeper Martin Fearon saved well from Warburton and the ball went for a corner, from the corner, Warburton flicked the ball on from a position advanced from the near-post and sent it into the far corner of the Skelmersdale net.
Curzon had been the better team through the opening exchanges, but gradually Skelmersdale got going and Dan Mitchley brought a save out of home goalkeeper Hakan Burton with a header from a Danny Wisdom free-kick, before McCarthy was the target of another misdemeanour in the form of a reckless looking challenge from behind.
Curzon finished the half strongly and Fearon made a superb save from Ryan Watson after he ran onto a chipped through ball before the same player had a goal disallowed for offside as he scored with a rebound in the 43rd minute.
Skelmersdale emerged a different team for the second-half, the same eleven players but now with a very positive resolve.
Mitchley saw a shot go wide, then with a bicycle kick from a Peter Wylie cross brought a magnificent save from Burton, after which the ball was scrambled off the home goal line from the ensuing corner.
Skelmersdale had been unlucky not to have levelled and when in the 57th minute a Rob McIntosh header rocked the crossbar, there could be no argument on the view.
Curzon then had a spell on the attack, the highly impressive Warburton had a shot deflected wide then 3 consecutive shots were blocked by Skelmersdale defenders.
The latter stages saw a now tiring Curzon fall back on a defensive barrier, which in fairness to them they assembled well and kept Skelmersdale away from goal.
The game was three and a half minutes into added time when Skelmersdale won a free-kick on the right and everyone except goalkeeper Fearon took up position in the Curzon penalty area. However, the free-kick was frustratingly poor and the ball was cleared to Jordan Wright, on the halfway line he was met by Fearon and sent the ball low and bouncing past him with the accuracy of Rory McIlroy into the Skelmersdale net from some 55 yards, with no one at all in the Skelmersdale half of the pitch to chase it. It made it 2-0, a score that flattered Curzon, but they were the better team on the night, just.
CURZON ASHTON: Burton, Woodford, Horrocks (Wright, 90), Hunt, Thornton, Brown, Warburton, Walker ©, Cummins (Brooke, 80), Watson, Rowney Subs (not used) Lakeland, Fitzgerald, Kay
SKELMERSDALE UNITED: Fearon, Wylie (Sumner, 83), Wisdom, McIntosh ©, Bodie, Simpson (Kirkbride, 76), Thompson, Strickland, Mitchley, McCarthy, Ince Subs (not used) Mooney, Lloyd, Monaghan
Referee: Jason Tyas Attendance: 241
CURZON ASHTON 2 SKELMERSDALE UNITED 0
By Neil Leatherbarrow
But for the width of a crossbar and a superb save from a goalkeeper who has seen European nights with Liverpool, Skelmersdale United would very likely have retained their nine game unbeaten start to the season. But having gone a goal down in the 12th minute, they were thwarted in the fight back, before conceding a rather unique late goal that gave the game a bit of a lop-sided look about it.
The game licked-off on a pitch that had been highly watered for at least two hours before the game and the hosts certainly knew how to use it. Zipping the ball about quickly and making the Skelmersdale defence turn as often as possible, the threat being highlighted by a dangerous ball across the face of the Skelmersdale goal by Matt Warburton in the 6th minute.
Skelmersdale broke away in the 8th minute and only a rather cynical challenge from home defender Jonathon Hunt that brought a yellow card prevented Connor McCarthy.
In the 12th minute, the crucial opening goal went to Curzon. Initially Skelmersdale goalkeeper Martin Fearon saved well from Warburton and the ball went for a corner, from the corner, Warburton flicked the ball on from a position advanced from the near-post and sent it into the far corner of the Skelmersdale net.
Curzon had been the better team through the opening exchanges, but gradually Skelmersdale got going and Dan Mitchley brought a save out of home goalkeeper Hakan Burton with a header from a Danny Wisdom free-kick, before McCarthy was the target of another misdemeanour in the form of a reckless looking challenge from behind.
Curzon finished the half strongly and Fearon made a superb save from Ryan Watson after he ran onto a chipped through ball before the same player had a goal disallowed for offside as he scored with a rebound in the 43rd minute.
Skelmersdale emerged a different team for the second-half, the same eleven players but now with a very positive resolve.
Mitchley saw a shot go wide, then with a bicycle kick from a Peter Wylie cross brought a magnificent save from Burton, after which the ball was scrambled off the home goal line from the ensuing corner.
Skelmersdale had been unlucky not to have levelled and when in the 57th minute a Rob McIntosh header rocked the crossbar, there could be no argument on the view.
Curzon then had a spell on the attack, the highly impressive Warburton had a shot deflected wide then 3 consecutive shots were blocked by Skelmersdale defenders.
The latter stages saw a now tiring Curzon fall back on a defensive barrier, which in fairness to them they assembled well and kept Skelmersdale away from goal.
The game was three and a half minutes into added time when Skelmersdale won a free-kick on the right and everyone except goalkeeper Fearon took up position in the Curzon penalty area. However, the free-kick was frustratingly poor and the ball was cleared to Jordan Wright, on the halfway line he was met by Fearon and sent the ball low and bouncing past him with the accuracy of Rory McIlroy into the Skelmersdale net from some 55 yards, with no one at all in the Skelmersdale half of the pitch to chase it. It made it 2-0, a score that flattered Curzon, but they were the better team on the night, just.
CURZON ASHTON: Burton, Woodford, Horrocks (Wright, 90), Hunt, Thornton, Brown, Warburton, Walker ©, Cummins (Brooke, 80), Watson, Rowney Subs (not used) Lakeland, Fitzgerald, Kay
SKELMERSDALE UNITED: Fearon, Wylie (Sumner, 83), Wisdom, McIntosh ©, Bodie, Simpson (Kirkbride, 76), Thompson, Strickland, Mitchley, McCarthy, Ince Subs (not used) Mooney, Lloyd, Monaghan
Referee: Jason Tyas Attendance: 241