Post by Kev Panther on Feb 3, 2016 9:15:04 GMT
PLEASING PERFORMANCE BUT NO CIGAR FOR SKEM
STOURBRIDGE 3 SKELMERSDALE UNITED 1
By Neil Leatherbarrow
Stourbridge’s War Memorial Athletic Ground has this season hosted the BBC camera’s for an FA Cup tie, the club are on the verge of the FA Trophy quarter-final and are still hot on the trail of a play-off spot in the Evo-Stik Premier Division, but they weren’t given an easy afternoon by a gallant Skelmersdale United side who made them work hard all the way to secure three points.
Already fielding a weakened squad Skelmersdale United manager Tommy Lawson was further frustrated before kick off when midfielder Ged Kinsella failed a pre-match fitness test leaving him without six players who would arguably have started the match, so it was no surprise when Stourbridge gained an early territorial advantage.
The highlights early on saw home number ten Justin Richards put one good opportunity wide and Skem goalkeeper Martin Fearon making a good reaction save from a Matt Dodd snapshot.
This all changed in the 25th minute when Kenny Strickland skilfully sent a dropping ball over the home defence, Max Hazeldine ran onto the ball and with the entire home defence on his tail lifted the ball over advancing goalkeeper Charlie Price to give Skelmersdale the lead.
It could have been 2-0 to Skem seven minutes later but keeper Price dived full-length to his left to finger-tip away a Tyrone Duffus shot.
As it was Skelmersdale held the lead for exactly ten minutes and the equaliser was one of the best goals they will concede all season. Stourbridge centre-forward Karl Hawley may be 34 years old, but he still retains all the guile that saw him spend fifteen years playing in the Football League for clubs including Preston North End and Notts County and just to prove it, he played a one-two, then inside the penalty area he sent two defenders the wrong way and curled the ball right into the top corner of the net to make it 1-1.
Two minutes later on 37 minutes Hawley’s shot was blocked but the ball ran perfectly to strike partner Dodd who had a simple task to put Stourbridge 2-1 up.
Skelmersdale were not done though, and in added time before the interval, Chris Almond set off on a determined run straight up the centre of the pitch, he eventually pushed the ball to Hazeldine and the teenage striker’s shot was destined for the bottom corner before Price miraculously got a boot to ball and diverted it for a corner.
Tommy Lawson was forced into a change at the break and introduced seventeen year old Brandon Gaskell, but for a goal-line clearance by Kristian Green he would have equalised in the 54th minute.
When Stourbridge were reduced to ten men by the dismissal of Dodd for a dreadful challenge on Strickland it arguably had a detrimental effect on Skelmersdale because it forced Stourbridge onto the defensive. But they still countered and defender Dan Scarr had made it 3-1 with a header from a set piece free-kick on 62 minutes.
From that point on it was all Skelmersdale, but alas they had few chances as an entrenched Stourbridge defence held them at arm’s length.
A Duffus ball across the face of goal was desperately unlucky not to bring a reward on 81 minutes, but no forward could reach it. Other balls into the area were either gathered by Price or thumped clear, as another day of high effort brought poor wages.
Skelmersdale played well, arguably they could have defended better, but in Hazeldine they have a player of clear potential and the spirit they are showing is praiseworthy. It would be wrong to say that Stourbridge were lucky, they were the best team, but given luck Skelmersdale could have fetched something back with them up the M6, they will play as well against lesser teams in their division and will pick up points and move up the table. Karl Hawley with his touch of class had won the game for Stourbridge at Skelmersdale; he probably did the same here.
STOURBRIDGE 3 SKELMERSDALE UNITED 1
By Neil Leatherbarrow
Stourbridge’s War Memorial Athletic Ground has this season hosted the BBC camera’s for an FA Cup tie, the club are on the verge of the FA Trophy quarter-final and are still hot on the trail of a play-off spot in the Evo-Stik Premier Division, but they weren’t given an easy afternoon by a gallant Skelmersdale United side who made them work hard all the way to secure three points.
Already fielding a weakened squad Skelmersdale United manager Tommy Lawson was further frustrated before kick off when midfielder Ged Kinsella failed a pre-match fitness test leaving him without six players who would arguably have started the match, so it was no surprise when Stourbridge gained an early territorial advantage.
The highlights early on saw home number ten Justin Richards put one good opportunity wide and Skem goalkeeper Martin Fearon making a good reaction save from a Matt Dodd snapshot.
This all changed in the 25th minute when Kenny Strickland skilfully sent a dropping ball over the home defence, Max Hazeldine ran onto the ball and with the entire home defence on his tail lifted the ball over advancing goalkeeper Charlie Price to give Skelmersdale the lead.
It could have been 2-0 to Skem seven minutes later but keeper Price dived full-length to his left to finger-tip away a Tyrone Duffus shot.
As it was Skelmersdale held the lead for exactly ten minutes and the equaliser was one of the best goals they will concede all season. Stourbridge centre-forward Karl Hawley may be 34 years old, but he still retains all the guile that saw him spend fifteen years playing in the Football League for clubs including Preston North End and Notts County and just to prove it, he played a one-two, then inside the penalty area he sent two defenders the wrong way and curled the ball right into the top corner of the net to make it 1-1.
Two minutes later on 37 minutes Hawley’s shot was blocked but the ball ran perfectly to strike partner Dodd who had a simple task to put Stourbridge 2-1 up.
Skelmersdale were not done though, and in added time before the interval, Chris Almond set off on a determined run straight up the centre of the pitch, he eventually pushed the ball to Hazeldine and the teenage striker’s shot was destined for the bottom corner before Price miraculously got a boot to ball and diverted it for a corner.
Tommy Lawson was forced into a change at the break and introduced seventeen year old Brandon Gaskell, but for a goal-line clearance by Kristian Green he would have equalised in the 54th minute.
When Stourbridge were reduced to ten men by the dismissal of Dodd for a dreadful challenge on Strickland it arguably had a detrimental effect on Skelmersdale because it forced Stourbridge onto the defensive. But they still countered and defender Dan Scarr had made it 3-1 with a header from a set piece free-kick on 62 minutes.
From that point on it was all Skelmersdale, but alas they had few chances as an entrenched Stourbridge defence held them at arm’s length.
A Duffus ball across the face of goal was desperately unlucky not to bring a reward on 81 minutes, but no forward could reach it. Other balls into the area were either gathered by Price or thumped clear, as another day of high effort brought poor wages.
Skelmersdale played well, arguably they could have defended better, but in Hazeldine they have a player of clear potential and the spirit they are showing is praiseworthy. It would be wrong to say that Stourbridge were lucky, they were the best team, but given luck Skelmersdale could have fetched something back with them up the M6, they will play as well against lesser teams in their division and will pick up points and move up the table. Karl Hawley with his touch of class had won the game for Stourbridge at Skelmersdale; he probably did the same here.