Post by Kev Panther on Apr 22, 2013 18:49:26 GMT
SKELMERSDALE UNITED ARE CHAMPIONS
SKELMERSDALE UNITED 4 FARSLEY 0
By Neil Leatherbarrow
Amid scenes of great celebration Skelmersdale United confirmed themselves as the Champions of Evo-Stik Division One North. The game was won with a whirlwind four goals in sixteen minutes that spanned half-time at the West Lancashire College Stadium. Skelmersdale United will now take up a place in the Evo-Stik Premier Division next season, a position they last held back in 1976. Further it is Skelmersdale’s first league title since they won the Cheshire League back in 1970. So there was much to celebrate on Saturday evening and many tears were shed among many of the longstanding faithful.
Only requiring a draw, understandably Skelmersdale started the game looking a little nervous and for the first twenty minutes Farsley were a match for Tommy Lawson’s men. After six minutes United Captain Tom Hardwick made a block on Farsley’s Gareth Grant as the pacey striker looked very dangerous.
Play was going from end to end, though defences were on top. Farsley’s Ryan Harrison rescuing his team in the ninth minute as Matty Hughes looked set to give Skelmersdale the lead from a Paul Woolcott cross from the left, then at the clubhouse end Skelmersdale’s Sam Ashton saved from Harrison.
The more the half progressed, the more Skelmersdale took control. Adam Morning put a 20 yard shot just wide then he played a tremendous diagonal ball that Farsley goalkeeper Tom Morgan reached fractions before Hughes then Lewis Field had a shot blocked.
Seconds after the added time for the first-half was announced, Dale Wright burst through a tackle ten yards inside his own half and set off on a run, about 25 yards from goal he released the ball to Mark Jackson who was entering the Farsley penalty area from the left, Jackson switched the ball from right to left foot and despatched a low shot into the Farsley net.
Two minutes after the interval it was 2-0. Woolcott chased a bouncing ball into the right corner and fired it low into the goalmouth; it was partially cleared straight into the path of Hughes, who gleefully blasted the ball into the roof of the Farsley net. The title was within touching distance; Skelmersdale only needed a point, so Farsley needed three to deny Skelmersdale.
In the following five minutes it was like a deluge, Morgan saved from Jackson, and then saved from Josh Hine at the near-post, before making another save from Wright.
In the 53rd minute the title was won. Jackson stole the ball from away defender Rob Etherington, he played it to Morning who in turn played it into the right-back slot, where Woolcott picked it up and dodged around a defender before rolling the ball across goal into the path of Hine, the top goalscorer doing what he does best, finding the net.
On the hour came the cream on the Championship cake, Morning crossed from the left, a desperate tackle denied Hughes and Jackson shot at goal, Hughes getting a touch to send Morgan the wrong way as the ball went into the net.
The rest was a victory procession, the fans revelling in the sunshine. There wasn’t a chance Farsley would get five goals. The nearest they mustered was an overhead kick from Sam Robinson that went wide. Antony Hickey had a header saved by Morgan and Mike Phenix was unlucky to hit the side-netting with a rasping shot.
After 43 years in the waiting, the final whistle was greeted by joyous scenes and plenty of wasted Champaign. Skelmersdale can still pick up two more pieces of silverware, you wouldn’t bet against them achieving them too.
SKELMERSDALE UNITED: Ashton, Field, Holden (Strickland, 54), Hardwick ©, McIntosh, Wright, Hughes (Hickey, 70), Woolcott, Jackson, Hine (Phenix, 73), Morning Subs (not used) Burnett, Evans
FARSLEY: Morgan, O’Brien ©, Dugdale, Dempsey (Noteman, 67), Jackson, Etherington, Priestley (Tonkinson, 82), Walton, Bambrook (Robinson, 70), Grant, Harrison Sub (not used) Wilson
Referee: Andrew Cawtherley
Attendance: 368
SKELMERSDALE UNITED 4 FARSLEY 0
By Neil Leatherbarrow
Amid scenes of great celebration Skelmersdale United confirmed themselves as the Champions of Evo-Stik Division One North. The game was won with a whirlwind four goals in sixteen minutes that spanned half-time at the West Lancashire College Stadium. Skelmersdale United will now take up a place in the Evo-Stik Premier Division next season, a position they last held back in 1976. Further it is Skelmersdale’s first league title since they won the Cheshire League back in 1970. So there was much to celebrate on Saturday evening and many tears were shed among many of the longstanding faithful.
Only requiring a draw, understandably Skelmersdale started the game looking a little nervous and for the first twenty minutes Farsley were a match for Tommy Lawson’s men. After six minutes United Captain Tom Hardwick made a block on Farsley’s Gareth Grant as the pacey striker looked very dangerous.
Play was going from end to end, though defences were on top. Farsley’s Ryan Harrison rescuing his team in the ninth minute as Matty Hughes looked set to give Skelmersdale the lead from a Paul Woolcott cross from the left, then at the clubhouse end Skelmersdale’s Sam Ashton saved from Harrison.
The more the half progressed, the more Skelmersdale took control. Adam Morning put a 20 yard shot just wide then he played a tremendous diagonal ball that Farsley goalkeeper Tom Morgan reached fractions before Hughes then Lewis Field had a shot blocked.
Seconds after the added time for the first-half was announced, Dale Wright burst through a tackle ten yards inside his own half and set off on a run, about 25 yards from goal he released the ball to Mark Jackson who was entering the Farsley penalty area from the left, Jackson switched the ball from right to left foot and despatched a low shot into the Farsley net.
Two minutes after the interval it was 2-0. Woolcott chased a bouncing ball into the right corner and fired it low into the goalmouth; it was partially cleared straight into the path of Hughes, who gleefully blasted the ball into the roof of the Farsley net. The title was within touching distance; Skelmersdale only needed a point, so Farsley needed three to deny Skelmersdale.
In the following five minutes it was like a deluge, Morgan saved from Jackson, and then saved from Josh Hine at the near-post, before making another save from Wright.
In the 53rd minute the title was won. Jackson stole the ball from away defender Rob Etherington, he played it to Morning who in turn played it into the right-back slot, where Woolcott picked it up and dodged around a defender before rolling the ball across goal into the path of Hine, the top goalscorer doing what he does best, finding the net.
On the hour came the cream on the Championship cake, Morning crossed from the left, a desperate tackle denied Hughes and Jackson shot at goal, Hughes getting a touch to send Morgan the wrong way as the ball went into the net.
The rest was a victory procession, the fans revelling in the sunshine. There wasn’t a chance Farsley would get five goals. The nearest they mustered was an overhead kick from Sam Robinson that went wide. Antony Hickey had a header saved by Morgan and Mike Phenix was unlucky to hit the side-netting with a rasping shot.
After 43 years in the waiting, the final whistle was greeted by joyous scenes and plenty of wasted Champaign. Skelmersdale can still pick up two more pieces of silverware, you wouldn’t bet against them achieving them too.
SKELMERSDALE UNITED: Ashton, Field, Holden (Strickland, 54), Hardwick ©, McIntosh, Wright, Hughes (Hickey, 70), Woolcott, Jackson, Hine (Phenix, 73), Morning Subs (not used) Burnett, Evans
FARSLEY: Morgan, O’Brien ©, Dugdale, Dempsey (Noteman, 67), Jackson, Etherington, Priestley (Tonkinson, 82), Walton, Bambrook (Robinson, 70), Grant, Harrison Sub (not used) Wilson
Referee: Andrew Cawtherley
Attendance: 368
