Post by Kev Panther on Dec 9, 2014 14:08:05 GMT
SUPERB GOAL DENIES SKELMERSDALE
STOURBRIDGE 1 SKELMERSDALE UNITED 0
By Neil Leatherbarrow
It took a goal right out of the top drawer to send Skelmersdale home from their first ever visit to Stourbridge without a point, in a game that was a close tight encounter from start to finish. The goal a 40th minute free-kick was later described by Skelmersdale manager Tommy Lawson as; “World class” and “something you just cannot legislate for.” It certainly was unstoppable and it was what is known in modern football phraseology as a ‘Game changer.’
The match had started with Skelmersdale pushed onto the back foot, but that isn’t a problem for Skelmersdale this season, with arguably the best defence in the Evo-Stik league. Skelmersdale goalkeeper Martin Fearon saving from a Will Richards header, a Leon Broadhurst shot and a George Bowerman effort in the opening twenty minutes.
The opening storm from Stourbridge was weathered well by the Skelmersdale defence and by the 35th minute when Alex Meaney went close after combining well with Connor McCarthy, things looked pretty good.
Five minutes before the interval Bowerman ran at Rob Bodie and took a poor touch on the ball, the unlucky Bodie was already committed to his challenge and the home number nine hit the floor.
The resultant free-kick was about 22 yards from goal slightly left of a central position. Drew Canavan’s shot not only curled into the top corner of the net, but on its powerfully hit route it swerved viciously too. It is fair to say that goalkeeper Fearon just didn’t have a chance.
It had been clear for a while that there wouldn’t be many goals in the game as both defences looked in control, so Skelmersdale had a fair task on their hands if they were to save the game in the second-half.
It was very heartening from a Skelmersdale perspective that before five minutes had elapsed they had won three corners. They had also brought a pair of tremendous saves out of Stourbridge goalkeeper Dean Coleman, with Meaney and McCarthy the marksmen. A goal at this stage would have made it a completely different game.
Stourbridge started to pose a threat on the counterattack, but it was Skelmersdale who now had most of the possession but Stourbridge were stubborn in defence and were giving very little away.
With twenty minutes to go Dean Astbury came on and Skelmersdale now had three men up front, the striker was kept out by one excellent tackle by Exodus Geohaghon in the 79th minute but it was not to be Skelmersdale’s day. Stourbridge held on and Skelmersdale had nothing to show for what was a good spirited effort.
STOURBRIDGE: Coleman, Morgan-Parker (Smikle, 89), Brown (Till, 67), Morris, Richards, Geohaghon, Haynes, Broadhurst ©, Bowerman (Ramsey-Dickson, 75), Canavan, Knight Subs (not used) Benbow, Tye
SKELMERSDALE UNITED: Fearon, Wylie, Short, McIntosh ©, Bodie, Kirkbride ((Simpson, 61 (Thompson, 67)), Strickland, Burton, Bakkor, McCarthy, Meaney (Astbury, 71) Subs Mitchley, Tollitt
Referee: Stuart Eagland
Attendance: 412
STOURBRIDGE 1 SKELMERSDALE UNITED 0
By Neil Leatherbarrow
It took a goal right out of the top drawer to send Skelmersdale home from their first ever visit to Stourbridge without a point, in a game that was a close tight encounter from start to finish. The goal a 40th minute free-kick was later described by Skelmersdale manager Tommy Lawson as; “World class” and “something you just cannot legislate for.” It certainly was unstoppable and it was what is known in modern football phraseology as a ‘Game changer.’
The match had started with Skelmersdale pushed onto the back foot, but that isn’t a problem for Skelmersdale this season, with arguably the best defence in the Evo-Stik league. Skelmersdale goalkeeper Martin Fearon saving from a Will Richards header, a Leon Broadhurst shot and a George Bowerman effort in the opening twenty minutes.
The opening storm from Stourbridge was weathered well by the Skelmersdale defence and by the 35th minute when Alex Meaney went close after combining well with Connor McCarthy, things looked pretty good.
Five minutes before the interval Bowerman ran at Rob Bodie and took a poor touch on the ball, the unlucky Bodie was already committed to his challenge and the home number nine hit the floor.
The resultant free-kick was about 22 yards from goal slightly left of a central position. Drew Canavan’s shot not only curled into the top corner of the net, but on its powerfully hit route it swerved viciously too. It is fair to say that goalkeeper Fearon just didn’t have a chance.
It had been clear for a while that there wouldn’t be many goals in the game as both defences looked in control, so Skelmersdale had a fair task on their hands if they were to save the game in the second-half.
It was very heartening from a Skelmersdale perspective that before five minutes had elapsed they had won three corners. They had also brought a pair of tremendous saves out of Stourbridge goalkeeper Dean Coleman, with Meaney and McCarthy the marksmen. A goal at this stage would have made it a completely different game.
Stourbridge started to pose a threat on the counterattack, but it was Skelmersdale who now had most of the possession but Stourbridge were stubborn in defence and were giving very little away.
With twenty minutes to go Dean Astbury came on and Skelmersdale now had three men up front, the striker was kept out by one excellent tackle by Exodus Geohaghon in the 79th minute but it was not to be Skelmersdale’s day. Stourbridge held on and Skelmersdale had nothing to show for what was a good spirited effort.
STOURBRIDGE: Coleman, Morgan-Parker (Smikle, 89), Brown (Till, 67), Morris, Richards, Geohaghon, Haynes, Broadhurst ©, Bowerman (Ramsey-Dickson, 75), Canavan, Knight Subs (not used) Benbow, Tye
SKELMERSDALE UNITED: Fearon, Wylie, Short, McIntosh ©, Bodie, Kirkbride ((Simpson, 61 (Thompson, 67)), Strickland, Burton, Bakkor, McCarthy, Meaney (Astbury, 71) Subs Mitchley, Tollitt
Referee: Stuart Eagland
Attendance: 412