Post by Kev Panther on Apr 11, 2016 20:23:45 GMT
SKEM DO DOUBLE OVER LEAGUE LEADERS
BLYTH SPARTANS 1 SKELMERSDALE UNITED 2
By Neil Leatherbarrow
Skelmersdale continued their record of taking points off the Evo-Stik Premier Divisions leading teams by completing a double over league leaders Blyth Spartans. Tommy Lawson’s men defeated the Spartans 2-1 at Stormy Corner back in November and have also beaten promotion chasing Workington 2-0, Salford City 3-1 and were only denied victory over Darlington when a last gasp equaliser gave the Durham side an arguably fortunate 1-1 draw.
The game started out as a potential thriller and maintained its end to end momentum throughout. Skelmersdale goalkeeper Martin Fearon saving low to his left from Blyth’s Sean Reid in the 3rd minute, before in the next eight minutes Max Hazeldine headed just wide after Chris Almond had tied home full-back Alex Nicholson in knots, and similarly headed against the post by Hazeldine from a Paul Woolcott cross in the 11th minute. The latter effort somehow spinning across the face of goal as the home support went very quiet indeed.
Twice in the next three minutes Blyth number seven Michael Richardson beat the Skem offside trap. The first time he was forced wide by Fearon before finding the side-netting, on the second occasion Ian Rowlands nipped behind Fearon to punt the ball clear as the ball was on course for the net.
The more the half progressed the more Skem imposed themselves on Blyth.
Only a great tackle by Dillon Morse thwarted Hazeldine on 20 minutes, home keeper Adam McHugh saved from Almond then tipped a tremendous dipping drive from Mike Brewster over the crossbar.
Blyth were now the team playing on the counterattack and Fearon was again sharp to keep out Reid on 32 minutes.
On 36 minutes Skelmersdale got the goal that nobody could dispute they deserved. A long ball dropped about 25 yards from goal and Hazeldine again ran at defensive pairing Morse and Nathan Buddle, who hesitated, Hazeldine took possession, rounded keeper McHugh and netted via a simple tap-in. It was a route one goal after Skelmersdale had played some excellent football, but none of the Skem supporters cared as they proudly strode off for a half-time brew.
Skelmersdale must have expected a second-half onslaught from the hosts, but it never really came. Instead for the next twenty minutes or so Skelmersdale looked the most likely scorers.
On 50 & 51 minutes Hazeldine fired over the bar and won the ball in a dangerous position from Paul Robinson.
On 54 minutes Skelmersdale got the crucial second goal. Scott Bakkor had been tormenting Blyth left-back Jordan Watson all afternoon and again he stormed down the right, this time he cut inside and fired the ball into the goalmouth, Almond met the ball about four yards out and flicked it past aghast goalkeeper McHugh and into the net.
Blyth made changes, the significant one was the introduction of substitute Wilson Kneeshaw up front and after 68 minutes he pulled a goal back. Heading home from six yards from an Arran Wearmouth cross.
Skelmersdale did look shaky for ten minutes and Buddle should have done better as he met a free-kick on 75 minutes.
Blyth manufactured a big chance on 79 minutes, the word ‘manufactured’ probably best describing the way Wearmouth leant on full-back Shaun Holden before going to ground and being awarded a penalty. Wearmouth’s lean giving him a disproportionate advantage as the forward is 6ft 5ins and Holden is about 5ft seven inches.
Although the Blyth support would no doubt disagree, justice was done from the penalty spot, Fearon diving to his left to save Damon Mullen’s spot-kick.
It was almost 3-1 to Skem on 81 minutes, only a spectacular bend backwards by home keeper McHugh keeping out Brewster who had had an impressive game for Skem.
Kneeshaw fired wide for Blyth after 83 minutes, then they won a succession of corners, but Skelmersdale held, looking more solid by the minute. Finally six minutes into added time Fearon made one more quality save, to keep out a deflection from McIntosh. That would have been a severe piece of bad luck for Skem, who deserved their victory; they were the more energetic outfit and were first to most loose balls, plus for long periods they made Blyth defend in numbers. It was absolutely superb demonstration of how to impose your own game on your opponents.
BLYTH SPARTANS: McHugh, Nicholson, Watson, Buddle, Morse, Mullen ©, Richardson, Robinson (Kneeshaw, 57), Reid, Wade (Hooks, 64), Wearmouth Subs (not used) Cartwright, Parker, Otte
SKELMERSDALE UNITED: Fearon, Mooney, Holden, McIntosh ©, Rowlands, Brewster, Bakkor, Woolcott, Hazeldine, Strickland, Almond Subs (not used) Bailey, Rendell, Corrigan, Vassallo, Tuck
Referee: Michael McDonough
Attendance: 787
BLYTH SPARTANS 1 SKELMERSDALE UNITED 2
By Neil Leatherbarrow
Skelmersdale continued their record of taking points off the Evo-Stik Premier Divisions leading teams by completing a double over league leaders Blyth Spartans. Tommy Lawson’s men defeated the Spartans 2-1 at Stormy Corner back in November and have also beaten promotion chasing Workington 2-0, Salford City 3-1 and were only denied victory over Darlington when a last gasp equaliser gave the Durham side an arguably fortunate 1-1 draw.
The game started out as a potential thriller and maintained its end to end momentum throughout. Skelmersdale goalkeeper Martin Fearon saving low to his left from Blyth’s Sean Reid in the 3rd minute, before in the next eight minutes Max Hazeldine headed just wide after Chris Almond had tied home full-back Alex Nicholson in knots, and similarly headed against the post by Hazeldine from a Paul Woolcott cross in the 11th minute. The latter effort somehow spinning across the face of goal as the home support went very quiet indeed.
Twice in the next three minutes Blyth number seven Michael Richardson beat the Skem offside trap. The first time he was forced wide by Fearon before finding the side-netting, on the second occasion Ian Rowlands nipped behind Fearon to punt the ball clear as the ball was on course for the net.
The more the half progressed the more Skem imposed themselves on Blyth.
Only a great tackle by Dillon Morse thwarted Hazeldine on 20 minutes, home keeper Adam McHugh saved from Almond then tipped a tremendous dipping drive from Mike Brewster over the crossbar.
Blyth were now the team playing on the counterattack and Fearon was again sharp to keep out Reid on 32 minutes.
On 36 minutes Skelmersdale got the goal that nobody could dispute they deserved. A long ball dropped about 25 yards from goal and Hazeldine again ran at defensive pairing Morse and Nathan Buddle, who hesitated, Hazeldine took possession, rounded keeper McHugh and netted via a simple tap-in. It was a route one goal after Skelmersdale had played some excellent football, but none of the Skem supporters cared as they proudly strode off for a half-time brew.
Skelmersdale must have expected a second-half onslaught from the hosts, but it never really came. Instead for the next twenty minutes or so Skelmersdale looked the most likely scorers.
On 50 & 51 minutes Hazeldine fired over the bar and won the ball in a dangerous position from Paul Robinson.
On 54 minutes Skelmersdale got the crucial second goal. Scott Bakkor had been tormenting Blyth left-back Jordan Watson all afternoon and again he stormed down the right, this time he cut inside and fired the ball into the goalmouth, Almond met the ball about four yards out and flicked it past aghast goalkeeper McHugh and into the net.
Blyth made changes, the significant one was the introduction of substitute Wilson Kneeshaw up front and after 68 minutes he pulled a goal back. Heading home from six yards from an Arran Wearmouth cross.
Skelmersdale did look shaky for ten minutes and Buddle should have done better as he met a free-kick on 75 minutes.
Blyth manufactured a big chance on 79 minutes, the word ‘manufactured’ probably best describing the way Wearmouth leant on full-back Shaun Holden before going to ground and being awarded a penalty. Wearmouth’s lean giving him a disproportionate advantage as the forward is 6ft 5ins and Holden is about 5ft seven inches.
Although the Blyth support would no doubt disagree, justice was done from the penalty spot, Fearon diving to his left to save Damon Mullen’s spot-kick.
It was almost 3-1 to Skem on 81 minutes, only a spectacular bend backwards by home keeper McHugh keeping out Brewster who had had an impressive game for Skem.
Kneeshaw fired wide for Blyth after 83 minutes, then they won a succession of corners, but Skelmersdale held, looking more solid by the minute. Finally six minutes into added time Fearon made one more quality save, to keep out a deflection from McIntosh. That would have been a severe piece of bad luck for Skem, who deserved their victory; they were the more energetic outfit and were first to most loose balls, plus for long periods they made Blyth defend in numbers. It was absolutely superb demonstration of how to impose your own game on your opponents.
BLYTH SPARTANS: McHugh, Nicholson, Watson, Buddle, Morse, Mullen ©, Richardson, Robinson (Kneeshaw, 57), Reid, Wade (Hooks, 64), Wearmouth Subs (not used) Cartwright, Parker, Otte
SKELMERSDALE UNITED: Fearon, Mooney, Holden, McIntosh ©, Rowlands, Brewster, Bakkor, Woolcott, Hazeldine, Strickland, Almond Subs (not used) Bailey, Rendell, Corrigan, Vassallo, Tuck
Referee: Michael McDonough
Attendance: 787