Post by Kev Panther on Nov 19, 2014 15:39:20 GMT
A GREY DAY AT GRANTHAM
GRANTHAM TOWN 1 SKELMERSDALE UNITED 1
By Neil Leatherbarrow
Grantham was once branded the most boring town in Britain and on Saturday the game against Skelmersdale didn’t do much to change that reputation. On a grey day, which soon became a foggy day, Skelmersdale were in the main faced with a home team that arguably was more intent on denying them than threatening them and it did nothing to lift the days gloom.
Skelmersdale got off to a far from ideal start, a wicked bounce right in front of goalkeeper Martin Fearon cost them a goal in the 6th minute. The ball initially running to home forward Paul Grimes before eventually being netted by midfielder Marlon Grundy to give Grantham a lead they were doggedly determined to hang onto.
The goal made it difficult for Skelmersdale to settle and it was only from the half-hour onwards that Tommy Lawson’s men started to get any kind of rhythm going.
When Skelmersdale levelled matters in the 36th minute even that was a scramble. James Short cleverly rounded a defender before seeing his shot parried by Grantham goalkeeper Dan Haystead and the ball ran to Kenny Strickland who was able to celebrate his 200th appearance in a Skelmersdale shirt by a least chalking up an assist, holding possession until he could slot Dan Mitchley in to score from six yards out.
Moments later it was almost 2-1 to Skem, but Haystead made another good save, this time at the foot of the post from Mitchley.
Five minutes into the second-half, Mitchley was denied again, this time by a world class save from Haystead. The striker caught the ball perfectly from about ten yards and the reactions the home goalkeeper produced to block the shot can only be described as remarkable.
There were not that many opportunities in the remaining 40 minutes, although due to fog that was falling, much of that time was spent debating whether the game would be completed.
Much of the action on the opposite side of the ground from the stand was impossible to see let alone comment on.
There was a loud penalty appeal by the home supporters in the 57th minute, but the exact details of the incident were shrouded in the Lincolnshire gloom, other than to say United midfielder Aidan Kirkbride emerged from the direction of all the shouting.
Skelmersdale pressed and pressed, but they were unable to find a way through an entrenched home defence in which Haystead and centre-back Sam Purcicoe were outstanding.
GRANTHAM TOWN: Haystead, Meadows, Kelly, Purcicoe ©, Hellewell, Grundy, Lewis, Johnson, Grimes, Bilyk, Emmott Subs Worthington, Newman, Foster, Divver, Rhule
SKELMERSDALE UNITED: Fearon, Fernandes (Wylie, 77), Short, McIntosh ©, Bodie, Kirkbride, Strickland, Burton, Mitchley (Sumner, 89), Bakkor, Meaney Subs (not used) Mooney, Thompson, Simpson
Referee: H. Hawkins (Chesterfield)
Attendance: 215
GRANTHAM TOWN 1 SKELMERSDALE UNITED 1
By Neil Leatherbarrow
Grantham was once branded the most boring town in Britain and on Saturday the game against Skelmersdale didn’t do much to change that reputation. On a grey day, which soon became a foggy day, Skelmersdale were in the main faced with a home team that arguably was more intent on denying them than threatening them and it did nothing to lift the days gloom.
Skelmersdale got off to a far from ideal start, a wicked bounce right in front of goalkeeper Martin Fearon cost them a goal in the 6th minute. The ball initially running to home forward Paul Grimes before eventually being netted by midfielder Marlon Grundy to give Grantham a lead they were doggedly determined to hang onto.
The goal made it difficult for Skelmersdale to settle and it was only from the half-hour onwards that Tommy Lawson’s men started to get any kind of rhythm going.
When Skelmersdale levelled matters in the 36th minute even that was a scramble. James Short cleverly rounded a defender before seeing his shot parried by Grantham goalkeeper Dan Haystead and the ball ran to Kenny Strickland who was able to celebrate his 200th appearance in a Skelmersdale shirt by a least chalking up an assist, holding possession until he could slot Dan Mitchley in to score from six yards out.
Moments later it was almost 2-1 to Skem, but Haystead made another good save, this time at the foot of the post from Mitchley.
Five minutes into the second-half, Mitchley was denied again, this time by a world class save from Haystead. The striker caught the ball perfectly from about ten yards and the reactions the home goalkeeper produced to block the shot can only be described as remarkable.
There were not that many opportunities in the remaining 40 minutes, although due to fog that was falling, much of that time was spent debating whether the game would be completed.
Much of the action on the opposite side of the ground from the stand was impossible to see let alone comment on.
There was a loud penalty appeal by the home supporters in the 57th minute, but the exact details of the incident were shrouded in the Lincolnshire gloom, other than to say United midfielder Aidan Kirkbride emerged from the direction of all the shouting.
Skelmersdale pressed and pressed, but they were unable to find a way through an entrenched home defence in which Haystead and centre-back Sam Purcicoe were outstanding.
GRANTHAM TOWN: Haystead, Meadows, Kelly, Purcicoe ©, Hellewell, Grundy, Lewis, Johnson, Grimes, Bilyk, Emmott Subs Worthington, Newman, Foster, Divver, Rhule
SKELMERSDALE UNITED: Fearon, Fernandes (Wylie, 77), Short, McIntosh ©, Bodie, Kirkbride, Strickland, Burton, Mitchley (Sumner, 89), Bakkor, Meaney Subs (not used) Mooney, Thompson, Simpson
Referee: H. Hawkins (Chesterfield)
Attendance: 215