Post by Kev Panther on Oct 26, 2014 13:40:54 GMT
SIXTH AWAY WIN FOR SKELMERSDALE STRETCHES LEAD
STAMFORD 1 SKELMERSDALE UNITED 3
By Neil Leatherbarrow
Skelmersdale United stretched their lead at the top of the Evo-Stik Premier Division with a sixth away win of the season, but it did come at a cost. Two headed first-half goals and a great finish by youngster Connor McCarthy (his second of the match) saw Skelmersdale home fairly comfortably in the end, but the loss of influential midfielder Tom Ince who was carried off in the 44th minute with what appears to be a nasty knee injury will be a blow for them.
On a tight pitch with rather long grass, it was the hosts that had the first attacking foray, but Skelmersdale goalkeeper Martin Fearon cut out a dangerous looking ball across his goalmouth.
In the sixth minute Skelmersdale went one better and opened the scoring. A corner was cleared out to the right-wing, where left-back Danny Wisdom took possession, he switched the ball from his right foot to his left and swung the ball to far post, and Aidan Kirkbride after another one of his well-timed runs met the ball with his head and directed it inside the far post.
Stamford have quite a formidable forward line and it was no surprise then they responded well. Nabil Shariff shot wide, then Jon Challinor curled an effort from distance wide too.
But Skelmersdale were holding on well and after Fearon made another save from Ryan Robbins Skelmersdale settled better and began to put some pressure on at the other end.
In the 32nd minute Skelmersdale made it 2-0 with a goal that was manufactured with some swift passing between Wisdom and Ince on the left, the latter nipped past a defender and lifted the ball to the far-post, McCarthy hoisted himself above the home defenders with the aid of run into the box and sent a header high into the net.
Stamford got back to pressing again, but this time they were getting little change out the Skelmersdale backline and no more clear cut chances were generated before the interval.
Not long after the break Shariff headed wide from a good position, but as the half progressed Skelmersdale started to assert more in attack and Stamford created less and less problems.
Jack Golding put a shot wide then home goalkeeper Andrew Stevens clung on well to a Mark Byrne shot as McCarthy stood over him, before a Kenny Strickland shot was fumbled by Stevens but he was rescued by his defence.
Recent signing Matty Harris came on for Byrne in the 78th minute and within four minutes he had created a crucial opening for McCarthy, cleverly poking the ball through the Stamford defence, McCarthy nipped onto the ball rounded goalkeeper Stevens and stroked the ball into the empty net to make it 3-0.
After the third goal, you could then argue that Skelmersdale eased off a little but you could also say that Stamford had refreshed resolve in attack, which ever it was in the 85th minute Stamford pulled a goal back with the best strike of the day. Dan Lawlor sending a right-foot swirling free-kick into the Skelmersdale net.
In the 89th minute Stamford almost set up a grandstand finish and only a magnificent diving save from Fearon kept out a Robbins rocket, launched from only eight yards when Fearon was seemingly on the wrong foot. According to Tommy Lawson after the match the save even got praise from the Stamford manager.
It was a great win for Skelmersdale and the players deserve real credit as it was their second long distance trip (after Blyth away on Tuesday) in around 100 hours, with the third match of Skelmersdale’s “nightmare” eight days on the road to come on Tuesday at Ashton United.
STAMFORD: Stevens, Richards (Fox, 44), Challinor, Carr, Bettles, Clarke, Lawlor, McGowan (Nwadike, 45), Shariff, Smith, Robbins Sub (not used) Staff
SKELMERSDALE UNITED: Fearon, Fernandes, Wisdom, McIntosh ©, Bodie, Kirkbride, Byrne (Harris, 78), Thompson, Strickland, McCarthy, Ince (Golding, 40) Subs (not used) Sumner, Mooney, Simpson
Referee: Rob Smith Attendance: 308
STAMFORD 1 SKELMERSDALE UNITED 3
By Neil Leatherbarrow
Skelmersdale United stretched their lead at the top of the Evo-Stik Premier Division with a sixth away win of the season, but it did come at a cost. Two headed first-half goals and a great finish by youngster Connor McCarthy (his second of the match) saw Skelmersdale home fairly comfortably in the end, but the loss of influential midfielder Tom Ince who was carried off in the 44th minute with what appears to be a nasty knee injury will be a blow for them.
On a tight pitch with rather long grass, it was the hosts that had the first attacking foray, but Skelmersdale goalkeeper Martin Fearon cut out a dangerous looking ball across his goalmouth.
In the sixth minute Skelmersdale went one better and opened the scoring. A corner was cleared out to the right-wing, where left-back Danny Wisdom took possession, he switched the ball from his right foot to his left and swung the ball to far post, and Aidan Kirkbride after another one of his well-timed runs met the ball with his head and directed it inside the far post.
Stamford have quite a formidable forward line and it was no surprise then they responded well. Nabil Shariff shot wide, then Jon Challinor curled an effort from distance wide too.
But Skelmersdale were holding on well and after Fearon made another save from Ryan Robbins Skelmersdale settled better and began to put some pressure on at the other end.
In the 32nd minute Skelmersdale made it 2-0 with a goal that was manufactured with some swift passing between Wisdom and Ince on the left, the latter nipped past a defender and lifted the ball to the far-post, McCarthy hoisted himself above the home defenders with the aid of run into the box and sent a header high into the net.
Stamford got back to pressing again, but this time they were getting little change out the Skelmersdale backline and no more clear cut chances were generated before the interval.
Not long after the break Shariff headed wide from a good position, but as the half progressed Skelmersdale started to assert more in attack and Stamford created less and less problems.
Jack Golding put a shot wide then home goalkeeper Andrew Stevens clung on well to a Mark Byrne shot as McCarthy stood over him, before a Kenny Strickland shot was fumbled by Stevens but he was rescued by his defence.
Recent signing Matty Harris came on for Byrne in the 78th minute and within four minutes he had created a crucial opening for McCarthy, cleverly poking the ball through the Stamford defence, McCarthy nipped onto the ball rounded goalkeeper Stevens and stroked the ball into the empty net to make it 3-0.
After the third goal, you could then argue that Skelmersdale eased off a little but you could also say that Stamford had refreshed resolve in attack, which ever it was in the 85th minute Stamford pulled a goal back with the best strike of the day. Dan Lawlor sending a right-foot swirling free-kick into the Skelmersdale net.
In the 89th minute Stamford almost set up a grandstand finish and only a magnificent diving save from Fearon kept out a Robbins rocket, launched from only eight yards when Fearon was seemingly on the wrong foot. According to Tommy Lawson after the match the save even got praise from the Stamford manager.
It was a great win for Skelmersdale and the players deserve real credit as it was their second long distance trip (after Blyth away on Tuesday) in around 100 hours, with the third match of Skelmersdale’s “nightmare” eight days on the road to come on Tuesday at Ashton United.
STAMFORD: Stevens, Richards (Fox, 44), Challinor, Carr, Bettles, Clarke, Lawlor, McGowan (Nwadike, 45), Shariff, Smith, Robbins Sub (not used) Staff
SKELMERSDALE UNITED: Fearon, Fernandes, Wisdom, McIntosh ©, Bodie, Kirkbride, Byrne (Harris, 78), Thompson, Strickland, McCarthy, Ince (Golding, 40) Subs (not used) Sumner, Mooney, Simpson
Referee: Rob Smith Attendance: 308