Post by Kev Panther on Oct 1, 2015 14:38:28 GMT
SKELMERSDALE DENIED IN LAST MINUTE
SKELMERSDALE UNITED 1 DARLINGTON 1883 1
By Neil Leatherbarrow
Skelmersdale United manager Tommy Lawson was a little disappointed yet at the same time very pleased with his team after they came close to defeating the former Football League club at Stormy Corner. The Quakers had started the night in top spot in the Evo-Stik Premier Division table and they only saved a point with a goal bang on the 90th minute.
Leaving Tommy Lawson to comment after the match; “Naturally I am a bit disappointed to concede a late goal, but in fairness a draw was the fair result. . . . We played a lot better and were much more our usual selves, the lads that have come into the team tonight have done well and slotted straight in, so you have to be very positive about things too.”
Darlington came out looking to win and they carried the game to Skelmersdale, but Skelmersdale had the same outlook, so although there were only two goals on the night, that was down to two good defences rather than any negativity on the players part. Sending the crowd home thoroughly entertained.
Seconds in a superbly timed challenge by Rob McIntosh prevented Darlington striker Nathan Cartman going one on one with Skelmersdale goalkeeper Martin Fearon and for the next twenty minutes or so Darlington had the majority of the possession. Culminating in a superb Fearon dive at Stephen Thompson’s feet as the home supporters held their breath on 21 minutes.
Gradually Skelmersdale got their passing game going and it was clear that the visitors were having trouble coping with Chris Almond on the right and new signing Isaac Kusaloka at centre-forward, the Zambian’s propensity to get behind Darlington’s backline causing no end of problems.
Kusaloka bringing the first good save of the night out Darlington goalkeeper Peter Jamieson on 32 minutes after Dan Mitchley had set him up.
In the 42nd minute Skelmersdale took the lead. Almond crossed from the right and Kusaloka brought a terrific reaction block out of Jamieson as home forwards converged on the penalty area, a defender attempted to hack the ball clear but on succeeded in hitting Alan Burton with the ball and the ball bounced into the net. There was a certain element of luck about the goal, but Darlington levelled that element of luck up with their equaliser. Burton’s general industry won him the 06 Vauxhall Man of the Match Award on the night.
Darlington are a good team and as expected they went on the offensive after the interval, but initially all they produced was a shot from Graeme Armstrong that went over Fearon’s crossbar.
At the Clubhouse End Skelmersdale went closer. On 50 minutes, Kusaloka had a shot deflected high into the air and as it dropped Mitchley reacted first, his low shot bringing another great save out of Jamieson, this time with his foot.
However, most of the Darlington attacks were foundering on the solid defensive pairing of Tony Rendell and Rob McIntosh and what didn’t was quickly snaffled up by Fearon.
On 77 minutes Phil Mooney’s shot was blocked and squirmed away for a corner, from which McIntosh put a header fractionally wide then from a long ball the energetic Kusaloka was again thwarted by Jamieson.
As everyone waited for the added time signal board Darlington won a corner on the right. Armstrong battled his way into the box and attempted a diving header, though his head missed the ball, it struck him somewhere much lower down his back and found its way into the net.
Tommy Lawson was right; a draw was a fair result. But from Skelmersdale perspective the game saw their confidence grow visibly and the swagger was back, this performance was against a good team, so it was no fluke. My betting is that the recent poor run is over and look out Rushall and Frickley in the next two league games.
SKELMERSDALE UNITED: Fearon, Mooney, Corrigan, McIntosh ©, Rendell, Burton, Almond (Strickland, 51), Staunton- Turner, Mitchley, Kusaloka, Ince Subs (not used) Hardwick, Donaldson, Owen, Kinsella
DARLINGTON 1883: Jamieson, Hunter, Galbraith, Portas, Burgess ©, White, Youhill (Scott, 77), Turnbull, Armstrong, Cartman, Thompson (Mitchell, 40) Subs (not used) Watson, Gibbons, Provett
Referee: David Fisher (Preston) Attendance 321
SKELMERSDALE UNITED 1 DARLINGTON 1883 1
By Neil Leatherbarrow
Skelmersdale United manager Tommy Lawson was a little disappointed yet at the same time very pleased with his team after they came close to defeating the former Football League club at Stormy Corner. The Quakers had started the night in top spot in the Evo-Stik Premier Division table and they only saved a point with a goal bang on the 90th minute.
Leaving Tommy Lawson to comment after the match; “Naturally I am a bit disappointed to concede a late goal, but in fairness a draw was the fair result. . . . We played a lot better and were much more our usual selves, the lads that have come into the team tonight have done well and slotted straight in, so you have to be very positive about things too.”
Darlington came out looking to win and they carried the game to Skelmersdale, but Skelmersdale had the same outlook, so although there were only two goals on the night, that was down to two good defences rather than any negativity on the players part. Sending the crowd home thoroughly entertained.
Seconds in a superbly timed challenge by Rob McIntosh prevented Darlington striker Nathan Cartman going one on one with Skelmersdale goalkeeper Martin Fearon and for the next twenty minutes or so Darlington had the majority of the possession. Culminating in a superb Fearon dive at Stephen Thompson’s feet as the home supporters held their breath on 21 minutes.
Gradually Skelmersdale got their passing game going and it was clear that the visitors were having trouble coping with Chris Almond on the right and new signing Isaac Kusaloka at centre-forward, the Zambian’s propensity to get behind Darlington’s backline causing no end of problems.
Kusaloka bringing the first good save of the night out Darlington goalkeeper Peter Jamieson on 32 minutes after Dan Mitchley had set him up.
In the 42nd minute Skelmersdale took the lead. Almond crossed from the right and Kusaloka brought a terrific reaction block out of Jamieson as home forwards converged on the penalty area, a defender attempted to hack the ball clear but on succeeded in hitting Alan Burton with the ball and the ball bounced into the net. There was a certain element of luck about the goal, but Darlington levelled that element of luck up with their equaliser. Burton’s general industry won him the 06 Vauxhall Man of the Match Award on the night.
Darlington are a good team and as expected they went on the offensive after the interval, but initially all they produced was a shot from Graeme Armstrong that went over Fearon’s crossbar.
At the Clubhouse End Skelmersdale went closer. On 50 minutes, Kusaloka had a shot deflected high into the air and as it dropped Mitchley reacted first, his low shot bringing another great save out of Jamieson, this time with his foot.
However, most of the Darlington attacks were foundering on the solid defensive pairing of Tony Rendell and Rob McIntosh and what didn’t was quickly snaffled up by Fearon.
On 77 minutes Phil Mooney’s shot was blocked and squirmed away for a corner, from which McIntosh put a header fractionally wide then from a long ball the energetic Kusaloka was again thwarted by Jamieson.
As everyone waited for the added time signal board Darlington won a corner on the right. Armstrong battled his way into the box and attempted a diving header, though his head missed the ball, it struck him somewhere much lower down his back and found its way into the net.
Tommy Lawson was right; a draw was a fair result. But from Skelmersdale perspective the game saw their confidence grow visibly and the swagger was back, this performance was against a good team, so it was no fluke. My betting is that the recent poor run is over and look out Rushall and Frickley in the next two league games.
SKELMERSDALE UNITED: Fearon, Mooney, Corrigan, McIntosh ©, Rendell, Burton, Almond (Strickland, 51), Staunton- Turner, Mitchley, Kusaloka, Ince Subs (not used) Hardwick, Donaldson, Owen, Kinsella
DARLINGTON 1883: Jamieson, Hunter, Galbraith, Portas, Burgess ©, White, Youhill (Scott, 77), Turnbull, Armstrong, Cartman, Thompson (Mitchell, 40) Subs (not used) Watson, Gibbons, Provett
Referee: David Fisher (Preston) Attendance 321