Post by Kev Panther on Feb 24, 2015 20:00:51 GMT
SKELMERSDALE UNITED 0 MATLOCK TOWN 1 Match Sponsor The Railway, Parbold
LATE BARRAGE NOT ENOUGH FOR SKELMERSDALE
By Neil Leatherbarrow
A late barrage on the Matlock goal was not enough to save the game for top of the table Skelmersdale United at Stormy Corner on Saturday. The visitors from Derbyshire made a good start and scored what was to be the only goal of the game in the 29th minute, then held out as Skelmersdale, who probably warranted at least a point were left frustrated.
A slow start arguably did nothing to help the Skelmersdale cause. In the opening 25 minutes United goalkeeper Steve James saved twice, once at Edward Cribley’s feet and then from a Jamie McDonagh shot and the crossbar rescued then from a Sabo Muhammed header.
The Matlock goal came via a goalmouth scramble. James appeared to be crowded out as he went for a corner and McDonagh forced the ball home.
From the goal onwards Skelmersdale were the better side territorially as Matlock fell back and defended with the first part of their classic hit and run away team raid in the bag.
The quarter-hour before the interval saw Skelmersdale pressing Matlock hard. One particular highlight was a tremendous turn by Dan Mitchley that put him clean in on goal, however, it was matched by an equally tremendous tackle by Julian Banton, that left some Skelmersdale supporters appealing for a penalty, but it clearly wasn’t.
In other attacks Mitchley saw a shot got inches wide and yet another last ditch challenge from a defender save Matlock.
Straight from the kick-off for the second-half Matlock went close, Niall McManus missing at the far post from McDonagh’s cross.
Skelmersdale asserted and now Matlock’s threat came from counterattacks that diminished as the game went on.
Scott Bakkor was thwarted by Matlock goalkeeper Jon Kennedy in the 53rd minute, before Mitchley was similarly kept out three minutes later and Ben Tollitt had a shot deflected for a corner in the 59th minute.
McDonagh brought a save out of James on a breakaway move then gradually Skelmersdale forced Matlock back.
In the last ten minutes it was a case of Matlock hanging on.
A Mitchley flick put Phil Mooney through, but Kennedy saved, he then did the same thing from a Mitchley header. Finally as the referee was poised to blow up for full-time a Dale Wright free-kick was bravely blocked.
It was a very spirited effort from Matlock, but Skelmersdale had no luck in front of goal on the day, a sentiment manager Tommy Lawson certainly agreed with after the match when he said: “We created enough chances to win the game, but we didn’t take them.”
SKELMERSDALE UNITED: James, Fernandes, Holden, McIntosh ©, Bodie, Kirkbride (Wright, 64), Strickland (Mooney, 64), Burton. Mitchley, Bakkor, Tollitt Subs (not used) Wylie, Meaney, Paxton
MATLOCK TOWN: Kennedy, Harcourt, Radford, Meade, Muhammed, Banton, Cribley, Needham © (Khan, 87), McDonagh (Maxfield, 80), Gregory (Holland, 71), McManus Subs (not used) Yates, Black
Referee: Paul Hodskinson (Preston
Attendance: 231
LATE BARRAGE NOT ENOUGH FOR SKELMERSDALE
By Neil Leatherbarrow
A late barrage on the Matlock goal was not enough to save the game for top of the table Skelmersdale United at Stormy Corner on Saturday. The visitors from Derbyshire made a good start and scored what was to be the only goal of the game in the 29th minute, then held out as Skelmersdale, who probably warranted at least a point were left frustrated.
A slow start arguably did nothing to help the Skelmersdale cause. In the opening 25 minutes United goalkeeper Steve James saved twice, once at Edward Cribley’s feet and then from a Jamie McDonagh shot and the crossbar rescued then from a Sabo Muhammed header.
The Matlock goal came via a goalmouth scramble. James appeared to be crowded out as he went for a corner and McDonagh forced the ball home.
From the goal onwards Skelmersdale were the better side territorially as Matlock fell back and defended with the first part of their classic hit and run away team raid in the bag.
The quarter-hour before the interval saw Skelmersdale pressing Matlock hard. One particular highlight was a tremendous turn by Dan Mitchley that put him clean in on goal, however, it was matched by an equally tremendous tackle by Julian Banton, that left some Skelmersdale supporters appealing for a penalty, but it clearly wasn’t.
In other attacks Mitchley saw a shot got inches wide and yet another last ditch challenge from a defender save Matlock.
Straight from the kick-off for the second-half Matlock went close, Niall McManus missing at the far post from McDonagh’s cross.
Skelmersdale asserted and now Matlock’s threat came from counterattacks that diminished as the game went on.
Scott Bakkor was thwarted by Matlock goalkeeper Jon Kennedy in the 53rd minute, before Mitchley was similarly kept out three minutes later and Ben Tollitt had a shot deflected for a corner in the 59th minute.
McDonagh brought a save out of James on a breakaway move then gradually Skelmersdale forced Matlock back.
In the last ten minutes it was a case of Matlock hanging on.
A Mitchley flick put Phil Mooney through, but Kennedy saved, he then did the same thing from a Mitchley header. Finally as the referee was poised to blow up for full-time a Dale Wright free-kick was bravely blocked.
It was a very spirited effort from Matlock, but Skelmersdale had no luck in front of goal on the day, a sentiment manager Tommy Lawson certainly agreed with after the match when he said: “We created enough chances to win the game, but we didn’t take them.”
SKELMERSDALE UNITED: James, Fernandes, Holden, McIntosh ©, Bodie, Kirkbride (Wright, 64), Strickland (Mooney, 64), Burton. Mitchley, Bakkor, Tollitt Subs (not used) Wylie, Meaney, Paxton
MATLOCK TOWN: Kennedy, Harcourt, Radford, Meade, Muhammed, Banton, Cribley, Needham © (Khan, 87), McDonagh (Maxfield, 80), Gregory (Holland, 71), McManus Subs (not used) Yates, Black
Referee: Paul Hodskinson (Preston
Attendance: 231