Post by Kev Panther on Jan 13, 2015 13:01:39 GMT
STORMY DAY AT STORMY CORNER
SKELMERSDALE UNITED 2 BUXTON 3
By Neil Leatherbarrow
Skelmersdale United’s Stormy Corner ground certainly lived up to its name as the hardy spectators were “treated to” all four weather seasons in one day, sunshine, hail, heavy rain and a strong gale blowing the length of the pitch. There was also, no gain from the pain as although they were entertained by five goals by a pair of teams that considering the conditions managed some excellent football, it could be said that Skelmersdale were a bit unlucky on the day.
Despite kicking into the wind, Dan Mitchley went close with a drop shot in the 8th minute before Skelmersdale took the lead four minutes later, Connor McCarthy striking from an acute angle after a clever bit of footwork on the left-hand side of the Buxton penalty area.
The first-half wind was a big advantage to Buxton and it played a part in their equaliser in the 21st minute, though credit has to be given for a superbly floated cross from Craig King that dropped perfectly onto Ash Palmer’s head in the Skelmersdale penalty area.
Buxton then won a succession of corners but Skelmersdale were holding on well in the face of the storm, but finally Buxton got a break that brought about a goal, Greg Young heading home in the 36th minute.
It could have been worse for Skelmersdale too, but stand-in goalkeeper Andy Paxton pulled off a magnificent diving save from Liam Hardy right on the 45th minute.
With the wind now in Skem’s favour, Mitchley put a shot wide straight after the restart, but then you had to feel sorry for Andy Paxton, he is only filling in between the posts because of an injury to Martin Fearon and he had saved Skem before the break. However in the 54th minute a back pass took a dreadful bounce as he went to kick it clear and the ball ran to Ash Burbeary in a wide position, from where it required an excellent cross to give Hardy the chance to make it 3-1.
Skelmersdale came back well and within three minutes pulled it back to 3-2. A spell of pressure saw the ball fed to Ben Tollitt on the left, he dribbled past right-back Alex Byrne but was tripped, leaving Mitchley to fire home the resulting penalty.
The latter stages became very scrappy, though that was hardly surprising as the weather became horrendous, to the extent that the referee would have been justified in taking both teams off the pitch at one stage.
For Skelmersdale Mitchley was fractions off converting from a Peter Wylie cross and Kenny Strickland had a free-kick saved by Buxton goalkeeper Arron Jameson. Skelmersdale hadn’t played badly at all, it just wasn’t their day.
Skelmersdale United: Paxton, Wylie (Fernandes, 75), Holden, McIntosh ©, Strickland, Kirkbride, Bakkor (Tollitt, 45), Burton, Mitchley, McCarthy, Wright (Bell, 85) Subs (not used) Mooney, Thompson
BUXTON: Jameson, Byrne, Green, Niven ©, Palmer, Young, Burbeary, Wilson, Tuton, Hardy (Reed, 76), King Subs (not used) Stacey, Doyle, Taylor, Ryan
Referee Barry Cropp (Blackpool) Attendance 234
SKELMERSDALE UNITED 2 BUXTON 3
By Neil Leatherbarrow
Skelmersdale United’s Stormy Corner ground certainly lived up to its name as the hardy spectators were “treated to” all four weather seasons in one day, sunshine, hail, heavy rain and a strong gale blowing the length of the pitch. There was also, no gain from the pain as although they were entertained by five goals by a pair of teams that considering the conditions managed some excellent football, it could be said that Skelmersdale were a bit unlucky on the day.
Despite kicking into the wind, Dan Mitchley went close with a drop shot in the 8th minute before Skelmersdale took the lead four minutes later, Connor McCarthy striking from an acute angle after a clever bit of footwork on the left-hand side of the Buxton penalty area.
The first-half wind was a big advantage to Buxton and it played a part in their equaliser in the 21st minute, though credit has to be given for a superbly floated cross from Craig King that dropped perfectly onto Ash Palmer’s head in the Skelmersdale penalty area.
Buxton then won a succession of corners but Skelmersdale were holding on well in the face of the storm, but finally Buxton got a break that brought about a goal, Greg Young heading home in the 36th minute.
It could have been worse for Skelmersdale too, but stand-in goalkeeper Andy Paxton pulled off a magnificent diving save from Liam Hardy right on the 45th minute.
With the wind now in Skem’s favour, Mitchley put a shot wide straight after the restart, but then you had to feel sorry for Andy Paxton, he is only filling in between the posts because of an injury to Martin Fearon and he had saved Skem before the break. However in the 54th minute a back pass took a dreadful bounce as he went to kick it clear and the ball ran to Ash Burbeary in a wide position, from where it required an excellent cross to give Hardy the chance to make it 3-1.
Skelmersdale came back well and within three minutes pulled it back to 3-2. A spell of pressure saw the ball fed to Ben Tollitt on the left, he dribbled past right-back Alex Byrne but was tripped, leaving Mitchley to fire home the resulting penalty.
The latter stages became very scrappy, though that was hardly surprising as the weather became horrendous, to the extent that the referee would have been justified in taking both teams off the pitch at one stage.
For Skelmersdale Mitchley was fractions off converting from a Peter Wylie cross and Kenny Strickland had a free-kick saved by Buxton goalkeeper Arron Jameson. Skelmersdale hadn’t played badly at all, it just wasn’t their day.
Skelmersdale United: Paxton, Wylie (Fernandes, 75), Holden, McIntosh ©, Strickland, Kirkbride, Bakkor (Tollitt, 45), Burton, Mitchley, McCarthy, Wright (Bell, 85) Subs (not used) Mooney, Thompson
BUXTON: Jameson, Byrne, Green, Niven ©, Palmer, Young, Burbeary, Wilson, Tuton, Hardy (Reed, 76), King Subs (not used) Stacey, Doyle, Taylor, Ryan
Referee Barry Cropp (Blackpool) Attendance 234