Post by Kev Panther on Apr 7, 2015 18:03:16 GMT
SKELMERSDALE FIGHTBACK THWARTED
SKELMERSDALE UNITED 1 RUSHALL OLYMPIC 2
By Neil Leatherbarrow
After struggling to get going for the opening half-hour Skelmersdale United fought back well on Saturday and in the end were more than a little unlucky not to have reaped a point if not all three against their opponents from the West Midlands.
Skelmersdale found themselves 2-0 down inside 26 minutes as they didn’t deal with the threat posed by Rushall striker Aaron Williams, who is a man on a mission. Vying at the top of the Evo-Stik Premier Division goalscoring charts with Buxton’s Liam Hardy and the two goals he left Stormy Corner with certainly helped his cause.
Williams struck his first in the ninth minute, storming through a gap on the left side of the home defence before driving the ball low into the far corner.
The forwards second had more than an element of fortune about it as he got the merest of touches to a cross from Jake Heath in the 26th minute, to divert the ball home.
From that point onwards Skelmersdale were the better team.
Ben Tollitt put in a 25 yard shot on 34 minutes but saw it curl just wide of the Rushall goal. He was then thwarted by Rushall goalkeeper Ryan Price who had an inspired afternoon, the former Telford keeper diving low to his left to keep out Tollitt’ side footed attempt after a fine overlap by Valtar Fernandes put the ball to his feet.
In the five minutes before the interval Skelmersdale had three viable moves. Batiste Cande fired wide, then Rob McIntosh had a goalbound shot blocked, before a Shaun Holden cross agonisingly failed to get a touch with the Rushall goal gaping.
In the 50th minute Dan Mitchley was unlucky, his shot hit the foot of the post, then just to confound matters the rebound fell perfectly for a Rushall defender as a host of Skelmersdale players were poised to strike.
Rushall had a brief period on the attack, first Carl Palmer wildly slashed the ball over the Skelmersdale bar after he had created the opening himself, then Williams wasted a hat-trick chance by firing into the side-netting on 62 minutes.
After that it was all Skelmersdale. Tollitt went close again on 69 minutes then on 73 minutes Mitchley was pulled back by Mick Townsend. The resulting free-kick wasn’t cleared and eventually the ball fell to McIntosh, who showed his forwards just how to finish and at the same time won the 50005 Taxis Man of the Match award.
Rushall were now falling back in numbers and when they did counterattack the run was not at goal, but annoyingly a series of moves to the corner flags, where they did their best to keep the ball for as long as possible.
Skelmersdale supporters thought they had grabbed a point in the 82nd minute. Fernandes had a shot palmed aside by Price and the ball ran diagonally to Tony Rendell, who blasted it back into the roof of the net, only to turn and see the flag raised for offside. It was unclear from the stand as to whether it was, but many home supporters disagreed.
The final move saw Tollitt cut in from the right, but his left-foot shot went just wide.
With a bit of luck in front of goal Skelmersdale would have won the game, but if you concede two early goals you make it very difficult for yourselves and very easy for your opponents to defend for the rest of the game, no matter how well you play afterwards. So it proved.
SKELMERSDALE UNITED: James, Fernandes, Holden (Bellew, 45), McIntosh ©, Rendell, Kirkbride, Strickland, Burton, Cande (Mitchley, 45), Wright (Woolcott, 45), Tollitt Subs (not used) Whittington, Mooney
RUSHALL OLYMPIC: Price, Christopherou, Williams C., Tolley, Duggan, Townsend, Heath, Palmer ©, Williams A., Taylor, Austin (Leslie, 45) Subs (not used) Caines, Reid, Sinton, Webb
Referee: Richard Wild (Rochdale)
Attendance: 240
SKELMERSDALE UNITED 1 RUSHALL OLYMPIC 2
By Neil Leatherbarrow
After struggling to get going for the opening half-hour Skelmersdale United fought back well on Saturday and in the end were more than a little unlucky not to have reaped a point if not all three against their opponents from the West Midlands.
Skelmersdale found themselves 2-0 down inside 26 minutes as they didn’t deal with the threat posed by Rushall striker Aaron Williams, who is a man on a mission. Vying at the top of the Evo-Stik Premier Division goalscoring charts with Buxton’s Liam Hardy and the two goals he left Stormy Corner with certainly helped his cause.
Williams struck his first in the ninth minute, storming through a gap on the left side of the home defence before driving the ball low into the far corner.
The forwards second had more than an element of fortune about it as he got the merest of touches to a cross from Jake Heath in the 26th minute, to divert the ball home.
From that point onwards Skelmersdale were the better team.
Ben Tollitt put in a 25 yard shot on 34 minutes but saw it curl just wide of the Rushall goal. He was then thwarted by Rushall goalkeeper Ryan Price who had an inspired afternoon, the former Telford keeper diving low to his left to keep out Tollitt’ side footed attempt after a fine overlap by Valtar Fernandes put the ball to his feet.
In the five minutes before the interval Skelmersdale had three viable moves. Batiste Cande fired wide, then Rob McIntosh had a goalbound shot blocked, before a Shaun Holden cross agonisingly failed to get a touch with the Rushall goal gaping.
In the 50th minute Dan Mitchley was unlucky, his shot hit the foot of the post, then just to confound matters the rebound fell perfectly for a Rushall defender as a host of Skelmersdale players were poised to strike.
Rushall had a brief period on the attack, first Carl Palmer wildly slashed the ball over the Skelmersdale bar after he had created the opening himself, then Williams wasted a hat-trick chance by firing into the side-netting on 62 minutes.
After that it was all Skelmersdale. Tollitt went close again on 69 minutes then on 73 minutes Mitchley was pulled back by Mick Townsend. The resulting free-kick wasn’t cleared and eventually the ball fell to McIntosh, who showed his forwards just how to finish and at the same time won the 50005 Taxis Man of the Match award.
Rushall were now falling back in numbers and when they did counterattack the run was not at goal, but annoyingly a series of moves to the corner flags, where they did their best to keep the ball for as long as possible.
Skelmersdale supporters thought they had grabbed a point in the 82nd minute. Fernandes had a shot palmed aside by Price and the ball ran diagonally to Tony Rendell, who blasted it back into the roof of the net, only to turn and see the flag raised for offside. It was unclear from the stand as to whether it was, but many home supporters disagreed.
The final move saw Tollitt cut in from the right, but his left-foot shot went just wide.
With a bit of luck in front of goal Skelmersdale would have won the game, but if you concede two early goals you make it very difficult for yourselves and very easy for your opponents to defend for the rest of the game, no matter how well you play afterwards. So it proved.
SKELMERSDALE UNITED: James, Fernandes, Holden (Bellew, 45), McIntosh ©, Rendell, Kirkbride, Strickland, Burton, Cande (Mitchley, 45), Wright (Woolcott, 45), Tollitt Subs (not used) Whittington, Mooney
RUSHALL OLYMPIC: Price, Christopherou, Williams C., Tolley, Duggan, Townsend, Heath, Palmer ©, Williams A., Taylor, Austin (Leslie, 45) Subs (not used) Caines, Reid, Sinton, Webb
Referee: Richard Wild (Rochdale)
Attendance: 240