Post by Kev Panther on Feb 29, 2016 18:16:40 GMT
SKELMERSDALE UNITED 0 GRANTHAM TOWN 1
By Simon Driscoll
On the back of a Tuesday night’s great win at Ramsbottom, Skelmersdale’s return to Stormy Corner on Saturday afternoon was one that failed to live up to expectation as the in-form Blues slipped to a narrow 1-0 defeat to Grantham Town.
The visitors arrived in Skelmersdale with just one win in six games and searching for a first away win since November so it was a surprise that they started the better of the two sides with a dangerous cross as early as the fourth minute forcing a save from Martin Fearon. Dylan Burns looked to test Fearon further after a clever run saw him sweep the ball just over the crossbar.
The Grantham attack soon bore fruit though as a long header forward from Ellis Storey found Lee Shaw who deftly chipped over Fearon to put the Gingerbreads 1-0 ahead.
Skelmersdale responded and had a good chance to draw level a few minutes later as a dangerous free kick forced a strong punch from Jake Turner.
Grantham came close to doubling the lead when a Danny Meadows cross saw Ben Saunders head towards goal only to be denied by a superb header off the line from Valter Fernandes on 26 minutes. From the resulting corner, Fearon was forced to tip a shot over the bar. Skelmersdale’s best chance of the first half came on the half hour as a Fernandes cross forced a clever save from Turner.
A snapshot from Burns and a dangerous cross from the left a few minutes later saw Fearon forced into two vital stops with the second a superb tip over the bar to prevent a certain goal.
Both sides started the second half fairly quietly before a great chance from Danny Murphy saw him flick an overhead chance into the arms of Turner.
The visitors had the opportunity to finally take a two goal lead on 69 minutes as Shaw broke free and advanced towards the defence but a good combination of tackles from Fernandes and Kenny Strickland saw him denied the chance to test Fearon in the Skelmersdale goal.
Shaun Tuck sent a sliding shot past the post on 72 minutes before turning a Strickland cross over the bar in added time.
SKELMERSDALE UNITED: Fearon, Fernandes, Corrigan, McIntosh ©, Murphy, Donaldson (Fosu-Mensah, 45), Booth (Mooney, 45), Woolcott, Hazeldine (Tuck, 45), Strickland, Almond Subs (not used) Holden, Thomas
GRANTHAM TOWN: Turner, Meadows, Story, Hollingworth, Galinski, Carr, Burns, Lewis ©, Shaw, Saunders, Emmott Subs Bilyk, Browne, Harris, McGhee, Ryan
Referee: Nathanial Cox
Attendance: 239
By Simon Driscoll
On the back of a Tuesday night’s great win at Ramsbottom, Skelmersdale’s return to Stormy Corner on Saturday afternoon was one that failed to live up to expectation as the in-form Blues slipped to a narrow 1-0 defeat to Grantham Town.
The visitors arrived in Skelmersdale with just one win in six games and searching for a first away win since November so it was a surprise that they started the better of the two sides with a dangerous cross as early as the fourth minute forcing a save from Martin Fearon. Dylan Burns looked to test Fearon further after a clever run saw him sweep the ball just over the crossbar.
The Grantham attack soon bore fruit though as a long header forward from Ellis Storey found Lee Shaw who deftly chipped over Fearon to put the Gingerbreads 1-0 ahead.
Skelmersdale responded and had a good chance to draw level a few minutes later as a dangerous free kick forced a strong punch from Jake Turner.
Grantham came close to doubling the lead when a Danny Meadows cross saw Ben Saunders head towards goal only to be denied by a superb header off the line from Valter Fernandes on 26 minutes. From the resulting corner, Fearon was forced to tip a shot over the bar. Skelmersdale’s best chance of the first half came on the half hour as a Fernandes cross forced a clever save from Turner.
A snapshot from Burns and a dangerous cross from the left a few minutes later saw Fearon forced into two vital stops with the second a superb tip over the bar to prevent a certain goal.
Both sides started the second half fairly quietly before a great chance from Danny Murphy saw him flick an overhead chance into the arms of Turner.
The visitors had the opportunity to finally take a two goal lead on 69 minutes as Shaw broke free and advanced towards the defence but a good combination of tackles from Fernandes and Kenny Strickland saw him denied the chance to test Fearon in the Skelmersdale goal.
Shaun Tuck sent a sliding shot past the post on 72 minutes before turning a Strickland cross over the bar in added time.
SKELMERSDALE UNITED: Fearon, Fernandes, Corrigan, McIntosh ©, Murphy, Donaldson (Fosu-Mensah, 45), Booth (Mooney, 45), Woolcott, Hazeldine (Tuck, 45), Strickland, Almond Subs (not used) Holden, Thomas
GRANTHAM TOWN: Turner, Meadows, Story, Hollingworth, Galinski, Carr, Burns, Lewis ©, Shaw, Saunders, Emmott Subs Bilyk, Browne, Harris, McGhee, Ryan
Referee: Nathanial Cox
Attendance: 239