Post by Kev Panther on Mar 15, 2016 20:01:07 GMT
HAZELDINE HAT-TRICK SEES OFF SALFORD
SKELMERSDALE UNITED 3 SALFORD CITY 1
By Neil Leatherbarrow
After arriving at Stormy Corner with accompanying BBC camera’s, a large travelling support and high expectation, the class of 92’s Salford City were sent back to the classroom on Saturday after being given a lesson in finishing by teenager Max Hazeldine, the Skelmersdale striker’s hat-trick making it eleven goals from his fourteen appearances since his arrival on loan from Accrington Stanley.
Only seconds had elapsed when Hazeldine warned Salford of what was to follow, latching onto a ball over the top he tussled with City defender Chris Lynch, however, referee Simeon Lucas decided to signal play-on and leave a vigorous discussion between supporters in his wake.
After a period of close play Lynch’s defensive partner Steve Howson wasn’t able to sigh with relief ten minutes later. Paul Woolcott put an early ball over the Salford defence and left the big defender isolated one on one with Hazeldine, the striker looked up and cleverly chipped the ball from around 18 yards over a backpedalling Howson and goalkeeper Jay Lynch and inside the far post to give Skelmersdale the lead.
Salford are going for a spot in the promotion play-off so it was no surprise that they went onto the offensive. They won a corner on the right on 16 minutes, the ball was driven into the box where a shoving and pushing contest was taking place Rob McIntosh handled and a penalty was given. Former Premier League striker Danny Webber fired the penalty kick low to Martin Fearon’s right-hand side; it put Salford back onto level terms.
The Ammies continued to press and Luke Clarke weakly shot wide with what would have been a spectacular volley then they had a goal disallowed because Webber was clearly offside. The one real heart stopping moment came via former Skelmersdale striker Josh Hine on 24 minutes, twice Fearon making magnificent saves that frustrated the Salford hordes.
Skelmersdale upped their game and in the quarter-hour before the interval Jay Lynch twice saved from Chris Almond.
On 42 minutes Skelmersdale struck again. Hazeldine, Louis Corrigan and Mike Brewster combined well on the left, Brewster saw his effort blocked and the ball ran out to Hazeldine about 15 yards from goal, he smashed the ball wide of the City keeper and into the net to give Skem the half-time advantage.
Two minutes after the restart a loose pass across the Skelmersdale defence was almost very costly. The ball was intercepted by Clarke; his shot looked goalbound until Fearon superbly got a finger-tip to the ball and diverted it onto the crossbar. It proved to be the one bit of luck all afternoon, but significantly it was caused by a Skelmersdale error rather than Salford’s approach play.
Salford were now having more of the possession but were not creating a great deal in the way of danger, most efforts were from distance, the best a shot from Steve O’Halloran that fizzed wide of the target.
On 71 minutes Skelmersdale gave themselves the breathing space they required. Deep in the Skem half Kenny Strickland skilfully brought the ball down and beat his opponent at the same time, he then played a 35 yard through ball to Hazeldine, again putting him one on one with Salford defender Chris Lynch. Hazeldine saw off the defenders challenge and now bearing down on goal, slotted the ball low under Jay Lynch and into the net behind him, bringing about an eleven man Skelmersdale celebration by the clubhouse corner flag.
However, instead of Salford threatening it was Skelmersdale who almost made it four. A Hazeldine cross finding Dylan Vassallo, the substitutes shot brought an acrobatic save from Jay Lynch, before the rebound was fired wide.
Salford increased the pressure, but again generated not much except a number of corners that were dealt with fairly comfortably, Chris Lynch had a header grasped by Fearon and Howson missed the target with the better attempts.
Skelmersdale got due reward for a hardworking display, they had neutralised Salford’s expensively assembled attacking force and had punished their rather ponderous defending. It was Skelmersdale’s eighth win in Salford’s last nine visits to Skem, the other was a draw. It also left manager Tommy Lawson smiling after the match when he said: “I am delighted, the players put in a real shift out there and I am pleased for them. It goes to show what we really are capable of if we get a full team out on the park.”
SKELMERSDALE UNITED: Fearon, Mooney, Corrigan, McIntosh ©, Rendell, Brewster, Bailey, Woolcott, Hazeldine, Strickland, Almond (Vassallo, 51) Subs (not used) Tuck, Donaldson, Fernandes, Bakkor
SALFORD CITY: Lynch J., Gumbs, O’Halloran, Moses, Howson, Lynch C. ©, Clarke (Allen, 72), Burton, Webber (Johnston, 72), Hulme, Hine Subs (not used) Dawson, Mwasile, Seddon
Referee: Simeon Lucas
Attendance: 370