Post by Kev Panther on Oct 15, 2014 18:44:39 GMT
LATE KIRKBRIDE HEADER MAINTAINS SKEM’S THREE POINT LEAD
FC UNITED OF MANCHESTER 1 SKELMERSDALE UNITED 2
By Neil Leatherbarrow
Skelmersdale United maintained their three point lead at the top of the Evo-Stik Premier Division with another success at the home of promotion rivals FC United of Manchester in front of 1,843 last night. A last minute diving header from Aidan Kirkbride silenced the Manchester fans in a game that was a victory for the sheer tenacity shown by the Skelmersdale players as they defended bravely then finished strongly and scored when it really mattered with a well worked goal.
Skelmersdale had started well and put FC United under early pressure, playing some slick passing football that at times made the hosts work hard to stay with Skelmersdale.
One attack was broken down rather cynically in the 12th minute, when Tom Ince broke down the left, but was taken out by FC United captain Dean Stott and referee Kelvin Sarsfield had no alternative other than to show the yellow card.
Three minutes later Skelmersdale struck. A Peter Wylie shot was deflected for a corner, which Ince drove low into the near post, Rob Bodie and Connor McCarthy created chaos and the ball went across goal to Rob McIntosh, who side-footed home with his right-foot.
As expected FC United stepped it up, but although Jerome Wright shot side of the target it was Skelmersdale who were next go close. A wonderful bit of skill by McCarthy saw the young striker cheekily weave past two defenders and just as he was about to step into the penalty area he was taken out, because that is the only description that can be given to the trip on him. The resulting free-kick from Ince as blocked as was the rebound from Wylie and FC United survived.
Skelmersdale looked to have the FC United attack under control until an error in the 35th minute, a short pass across the back was met with a poor touch and the ball ran to Wright, who ran on and held off Bodie before shooting low into the far corner.
The goal gave FC United impetus and from then until the interval Skelmersdale really had to hold their nerve as they beat off the home teams attack, with Martin Fearon making one particularly remarkable reaction save to keep out a Wright header in the 43rd minute.
The second-half was a similar but different story. FC United still had plenty of possession but Skelmersdale goalkeeper Fearon wasn’t all that busy, because the defence were coping well, the nearest to a goal was a cross that Mike Norton failed to connect with.
Gradually Skelmersdale started to do better further up the field. Kenny Strickland had a stinging free-kick held onto by home keeper Dave Carnell as McCarthy was poised to pounce, then Curtis Thompson created problems with a cross.
In the 75th minute FC United got their best chance of the half, an early ball in from the left found Tom Greaves feet, but a poor touch saw the chance gone.
By the last ten minutes FC United were not causing that many problems at all and bang on the 90th minute, Strickland and substitute Mark Byrne combined in midfield, the later swung a ball low across the back of the home defence, Kirkbride read the situation and ran in unmarked on the far post to guide a diving header past a stunned Carnell.
FC UNITED OF MANCHESTER: Carnell, Brownhill, Lacy, Stott ©, Knowles, Ashworth, Wolfenden (Greaves, 62), Fox (Walwyn, 88), Norton, Wright, Welsh (Brown, 84) Subs (not used) Lynch, Brewster
SKELMERSDALE UNITED: Fearon, Strickland, Wisdom, McIntosh ©, Bodie, Kirkbride, Thompson (Byrne, 84), Burton, Wylie (Fernandes, 64), McCarthy, Ince Subs (not used) Simpson, Sumner, Mooney
Referee: Kelvin Sarsfield (Burnley)
Attendance: 1843
FC UNITED OF MANCHESTER 1 SKELMERSDALE UNITED 2
By Neil Leatherbarrow
Skelmersdale United maintained their three point lead at the top of the Evo-Stik Premier Division with another success at the home of promotion rivals FC United of Manchester in front of 1,843 last night. A last minute diving header from Aidan Kirkbride silenced the Manchester fans in a game that was a victory for the sheer tenacity shown by the Skelmersdale players as they defended bravely then finished strongly and scored when it really mattered with a well worked goal.
Skelmersdale had started well and put FC United under early pressure, playing some slick passing football that at times made the hosts work hard to stay with Skelmersdale.
One attack was broken down rather cynically in the 12th minute, when Tom Ince broke down the left, but was taken out by FC United captain Dean Stott and referee Kelvin Sarsfield had no alternative other than to show the yellow card.
Three minutes later Skelmersdale struck. A Peter Wylie shot was deflected for a corner, which Ince drove low into the near post, Rob Bodie and Connor McCarthy created chaos and the ball went across goal to Rob McIntosh, who side-footed home with his right-foot.
As expected FC United stepped it up, but although Jerome Wright shot side of the target it was Skelmersdale who were next go close. A wonderful bit of skill by McCarthy saw the young striker cheekily weave past two defenders and just as he was about to step into the penalty area he was taken out, because that is the only description that can be given to the trip on him. The resulting free-kick from Ince as blocked as was the rebound from Wylie and FC United survived.
Skelmersdale looked to have the FC United attack under control until an error in the 35th minute, a short pass across the back was met with a poor touch and the ball ran to Wright, who ran on and held off Bodie before shooting low into the far corner.
The goal gave FC United impetus and from then until the interval Skelmersdale really had to hold their nerve as they beat off the home teams attack, with Martin Fearon making one particularly remarkable reaction save to keep out a Wright header in the 43rd minute.
The second-half was a similar but different story. FC United still had plenty of possession but Skelmersdale goalkeeper Fearon wasn’t all that busy, because the defence were coping well, the nearest to a goal was a cross that Mike Norton failed to connect with.
Gradually Skelmersdale started to do better further up the field. Kenny Strickland had a stinging free-kick held onto by home keeper Dave Carnell as McCarthy was poised to pounce, then Curtis Thompson created problems with a cross.
In the 75th minute FC United got their best chance of the half, an early ball in from the left found Tom Greaves feet, but a poor touch saw the chance gone.
By the last ten minutes FC United were not causing that many problems at all and bang on the 90th minute, Strickland and substitute Mark Byrne combined in midfield, the later swung a ball low across the back of the home defence, Kirkbride read the situation and ran in unmarked on the far post to guide a diving header past a stunned Carnell.
FC UNITED OF MANCHESTER: Carnell, Brownhill, Lacy, Stott ©, Knowles, Ashworth, Wolfenden (Greaves, 62), Fox (Walwyn, 88), Norton, Wright, Welsh (Brown, 84) Subs (not used) Lynch, Brewster
SKELMERSDALE UNITED: Fearon, Strickland, Wisdom, McIntosh ©, Bodie, Kirkbride, Thompson (Byrne, 84), Burton, Wylie (Fernandes, 64), McCarthy, Ince Subs (not used) Simpson, Sumner, Mooney
Referee: Kelvin Sarsfield (Burnley)
Attendance: 1843