Post by Kev Panther on Dec 22, 2014 13:08:40 GMT
SHAKY OPENING FOUR MINUTES PROVE COSTLY FOR SKELMERSDALE
HALESOWEN TOWN 2 SKELMERSDALE UNITED 0
By Neil Leatherbarrow
When you haven’t the best goals scored record in the Evo-Stik Premier Division and you are away against a team with one of the best defensive records in the division, it is probably better that you don’t concede an early goal, but that is precisely what Skelmersdale United did on Saturday, not once but twice, leaving Tommy Lawson’s men with a mountain to climb on his 500th game in the manager’s chair.
The first goal came moments after the 2 minute mark, a corner was driven in by Aaron Griffiths from the right into an area advanced from the near post, Joel Kettle flicked the ball on across the goalmouth and into the far corner of the Skelmersdale net.
Two minutes later Halesowen won a throw-in on the right wing, the ball was again hoisted into the box, and it was helped on and in the ensuing scramble Kettle slammed it into the net from about four yards out.
Barring a shot from Griffiths that fizzed over the Skelmersdale crossbar three minutes later Skelmersdale goalkeeper Zac Hibbert didn’t have a worthwhile shot to save in the entire game.
Skelmersdale settled and taking the whole balance of first-half play into account they arguably had more of the possession but were 2-0 down.
Aidan Kirkbride was denied by a great tackle by a home defender in the 16th minute and from the corner that followed Skelmersdale had a very confident appeal for a penalty for handball turned down.
Connor McCarthy caused the home defence problems and after shaking off two challenges his diagonal ball went to Valtar Fernandes who shot wide of the far post. Later in the half McCarthy put in a fine dipping shot that went just over the crossbar, before Dan Mitchley had a shot saved by Halesowen goalkeeper Matthew Sargeant.
There was every reason to be optimistic that Skelmersdale could turn it around in the second period.
The second-half was just a pantomime, except it was anything but family friendly, and referee Robbie Dadley was the villain. The man in black was totally incapable of withstanding pressure from the home players and support and let them take complete control of his decision making. Added to this a mob of around 100 home spectators surrounded the Skelmersdale dug-out and spent the second-half blaggarding Skelmersdale and Tommy Lawson in particular, to the extent that the whole scene became a farce.
A punch-up between the two teams in the 57th minute, resulted in a couple of bookings and by the 78th minute two Skelmersdale players, Fernandes and Rob Bodie had been dismissed and four home players cautioned too, but still Mr Dadley had no grip on affairs, with the playing action becoming almost a side show.
For the record Kenny Strickland went close with a free-kick and Peter Wylie had a shot saved by Sargeant, while down the other end Neil Mackenzie put a dangerous looking chip over the Skelmersdale bar.
HALESOWEN TOWN: Sargeant, Green, Griffiths, Forde (Mackenzie, 77), Hull ©, Tilt, Kettle, Tonks, Thomspon-Brown, Haseley (Daniels, 10), Bragoli (Turner, 77) Subs (not used) Christie, Pearson
SKELMERSDALE UNITED: Hibbert, Wylie, Short, McIntosh ©, Bodie, Kirkbride, Fernandes, Burton, Mitchley, McCarthy, Strickland Subs (not used) Thompson, Mooney, Meaney, Wright, Bakkor
Referee: Robbie Dadley (Coventry)
HALESOWEN TOWN 2 SKELMERSDALE UNITED 0
By Neil Leatherbarrow
When you haven’t the best goals scored record in the Evo-Stik Premier Division and you are away against a team with one of the best defensive records in the division, it is probably better that you don’t concede an early goal, but that is precisely what Skelmersdale United did on Saturday, not once but twice, leaving Tommy Lawson’s men with a mountain to climb on his 500th game in the manager’s chair.
The first goal came moments after the 2 minute mark, a corner was driven in by Aaron Griffiths from the right into an area advanced from the near post, Joel Kettle flicked the ball on across the goalmouth and into the far corner of the Skelmersdale net.
Two minutes later Halesowen won a throw-in on the right wing, the ball was again hoisted into the box, and it was helped on and in the ensuing scramble Kettle slammed it into the net from about four yards out.
Barring a shot from Griffiths that fizzed over the Skelmersdale crossbar three minutes later Skelmersdale goalkeeper Zac Hibbert didn’t have a worthwhile shot to save in the entire game.
Skelmersdale settled and taking the whole balance of first-half play into account they arguably had more of the possession but were 2-0 down.
Aidan Kirkbride was denied by a great tackle by a home defender in the 16th minute and from the corner that followed Skelmersdale had a very confident appeal for a penalty for handball turned down.
Connor McCarthy caused the home defence problems and after shaking off two challenges his diagonal ball went to Valtar Fernandes who shot wide of the far post. Later in the half McCarthy put in a fine dipping shot that went just over the crossbar, before Dan Mitchley had a shot saved by Halesowen goalkeeper Matthew Sargeant.
There was every reason to be optimistic that Skelmersdale could turn it around in the second period.
The second-half was just a pantomime, except it was anything but family friendly, and referee Robbie Dadley was the villain. The man in black was totally incapable of withstanding pressure from the home players and support and let them take complete control of his decision making. Added to this a mob of around 100 home spectators surrounded the Skelmersdale dug-out and spent the second-half blaggarding Skelmersdale and Tommy Lawson in particular, to the extent that the whole scene became a farce.
A punch-up between the two teams in the 57th minute, resulted in a couple of bookings and by the 78th minute two Skelmersdale players, Fernandes and Rob Bodie had been dismissed and four home players cautioned too, but still Mr Dadley had no grip on affairs, with the playing action becoming almost a side show.
For the record Kenny Strickland went close with a free-kick and Peter Wylie had a shot saved by Sargeant, while down the other end Neil Mackenzie put a dangerous looking chip over the Skelmersdale bar.
HALESOWEN TOWN: Sargeant, Green, Griffiths, Forde (Mackenzie, 77), Hull ©, Tilt, Kettle, Tonks, Thomspon-Brown, Haseley (Daniels, 10), Bragoli (Turner, 77) Subs (not used) Christie, Pearson
SKELMERSDALE UNITED: Hibbert, Wylie, Short, McIntosh ©, Bodie, Kirkbride, Fernandes, Burton, Mitchley, McCarthy, Strickland Subs (not used) Thompson, Mooney, Meaney, Wright, Bakkor
Referee: Robbie Dadley (Coventry)