Post by Kev Panther on Nov 5, 2014 19:35:01 GMT
SKELMERSDALE UNITED 1 NANTWICH TOWN 0
By Neil Leatherbarrow
A 61st minute header from Alan Burton was sufficient to put eight Skelmersdale United eight points clear at the top of the Evo-Stik Premier Division, as Tommy Lawson’s men had a refreshed look about them.
Tommy made four changes from Saturday’s team including two new signings and it made all the difference to them as they started the game in flowing style and they quickly had Nantwich on the back foot. Skelmersdale had six corners in the opening 15 minutes, by which time newly acquired striker Scott Bakkor had had two goalbound shots bravely blocked before another opportunity was pinched off the end of his toe by Nantwich goalkeeper Dave Stevenson.
In the 19th minute the other new signing Alex Meaney put a free-kick onto the roof of the Nantwich net, then in the 22nd minute only a frantic scramble in the goalmouth kept the Nantwich clean sheet after Meaney, Danny Wisdom and Valtar Fernandes combined.
The pressure was insistent from Skelmersdale and by the interval Connor McCarthy got in on the act but had a shot saved by Stevenson and another went just over the crossbar.
After half-time Nantwich briefly threatened with a fizzing 25 yard effort from Arron Burns that went over the bar, but Skelmersdale started to assert again.
Stevenson again frustrated Meaney then excelled himself in the 57th minute, when McCarthy slid in on another ball from Meaney out on the left.
Finally Skelmersdale took the lead just after the hour mark. Portuguese right-back Fernandes sent a wonderful looping ball in from the right; Burton lost his marker and soared above everyone to head the ball over Stevenson and just under the crossbar from around 15 yards.
Three minutes later McCarthy dummied his marker turned but his shot went just wide.
Nantwich now had to attack Skelmersdale and they made a double substitution in the 72nd minute, including the introduction of former Liverpool midfielder Adam Pepper and it did change the momentum of the game a bit, but one thing Skelmersdale are very good at this season is defending.
Pepper put a 75th minute free-kick over the crossbar then Martin Fearon saved a Mark Winslade shot under his crossbar, before a superb tackle by Peter Wylie thwarted Burns.
As added time beckoned, McCarthy went close up the other end. Nantwich had done well in the latter stages, but for seventy minutes Skelmersdale had looked the better team, with the tempo of their play by far the quicker of the two teams and as such they deserved their three points. Tommy Lawson said he would make changes after Saturday and to his credit they worked a treat.
SKELMERSDALE UNITED: Fearon, Fernandes, Wisdom, McIntosh ©, Wylie, Kirkbride, Mooney (Byrne, 69), Burton, Bakkor, McCarthy, Meaney Subs (not used) Strickland, Mitchley, Thompson, Simpson
NANTWICH TOWN: Stevenson, Harrop K., White, Blake, Jones A. ©, Pearson, Clayton, Sheehan (Pepper, 72), Burns, Howard, Harrop M. (Winslade, 72) Subs (not used) Wilson, Dowling, Smith
Referee: Matthew Corlett
Attendance: 196
By Neil Leatherbarrow
A 61st minute header from Alan Burton was sufficient to put eight Skelmersdale United eight points clear at the top of the Evo-Stik Premier Division, as Tommy Lawson’s men had a refreshed look about them.
Tommy made four changes from Saturday’s team including two new signings and it made all the difference to them as they started the game in flowing style and they quickly had Nantwich on the back foot. Skelmersdale had six corners in the opening 15 minutes, by which time newly acquired striker Scott Bakkor had had two goalbound shots bravely blocked before another opportunity was pinched off the end of his toe by Nantwich goalkeeper Dave Stevenson.
In the 19th minute the other new signing Alex Meaney put a free-kick onto the roof of the Nantwich net, then in the 22nd minute only a frantic scramble in the goalmouth kept the Nantwich clean sheet after Meaney, Danny Wisdom and Valtar Fernandes combined.
The pressure was insistent from Skelmersdale and by the interval Connor McCarthy got in on the act but had a shot saved by Stevenson and another went just over the crossbar.
After half-time Nantwich briefly threatened with a fizzing 25 yard effort from Arron Burns that went over the bar, but Skelmersdale started to assert again.
Stevenson again frustrated Meaney then excelled himself in the 57th minute, when McCarthy slid in on another ball from Meaney out on the left.
Finally Skelmersdale took the lead just after the hour mark. Portuguese right-back Fernandes sent a wonderful looping ball in from the right; Burton lost his marker and soared above everyone to head the ball over Stevenson and just under the crossbar from around 15 yards.
Three minutes later McCarthy dummied his marker turned but his shot went just wide.
Nantwich now had to attack Skelmersdale and they made a double substitution in the 72nd minute, including the introduction of former Liverpool midfielder Adam Pepper and it did change the momentum of the game a bit, but one thing Skelmersdale are very good at this season is defending.
Pepper put a 75th minute free-kick over the crossbar then Martin Fearon saved a Mark Winslade shot under his crossbar, before a superb tackle by Peter Wylie thwarted Burns.
As added time beckoned, McCarthy went close up the other end. Nantwich had done well in the latter stages, but for seventy minutes Skelmersdale had looked the better team, with the tempo of their play by far the quicker of the two teams and as such they deserved their three points. Tommy Lawson said he would make changes after Saturday and to his credit they worked a treat.
SKELMERSDALE UNITED: Fearon, Fernandes, Wisdom, McIntosh ©, Wylie, Kirkbride, Mooney (Byrne, 69), Burton, Bakkor, McCarthy, Meaney Subs (not used) Strickland, Mitchley, Thompson, Simpson
NANTWICH TOWN: Stevenson, Harrop K., White, Blake, Jones A. ©, Pearson, Clayton, Sheehan (Pepper, 72), Burns, Howard, Harrop M. (Winslade, 72) Subs (not used) Wilson, Dowling, Smith
Referee: Matthew Corlett
Attendance: 196