Post by Kev Panther on Mar 5, 2014 20:03:39 GMT
SKELMERSDALE ON THE CHAMPIONSHIP TRAIL
SKELMERSDALE UNITED 3 TRAFFORD 1
By Neil Leatherbarrow
In case there were any doubters, Skelmersdale United’s championship dream is very much alive and kicking. Victory at the West Lancashire College Stadium over their Urmston based rivals leaves them only one point off the top of the Evo-Stik Premier Division as leaders Chorley have turned a spring wobble into a real stagger.
Skelmersdale took only five minutes take the lead and although Trafford levelled with a penalty, goals in 75 and 87 minutes gave them what in the end was a comfortable victory.
The fifth minute opener was swift and incisive. The ball was played out of defence to Mark Jackson; he held the ball up and sliced it through the Trafford defence to Dean Astbury who fired it into the far corner.
Skelmersdale had started well and the Ken Abram Ltd Man of the Match Lewis Field almost made it two in the 17th minute, storming down the right, exchanging passes before stinging the hands of Trafford goalkeeper Tom Read.
Trafford are kings of the counterattack so Skelmersdale had to be on their toes, a strategy demonstrated in the 20th minute when Rory Fallon sent the ball fizzing across the face of the Skelmersdale goal.
Soon Field was at it again, this time setting up Astbury for a shot that was saved at his feet by keeper Read, later followed by a Jackson header that went just wide.
Astbury had a goal disallowed for offside in the 53rd minute, then brought another save out of Read a minute later as Skelmersdale searched for a second goal.
Trafford rallied. Zac Hibbert saved from a Tom Schofield snapshot then in the 64th minute Shelton Payne ran down a loose ball before heading into the Skelmersdale area, he went to ground as Tom Hardwick challenged him and a penalty was given. Payne sent Hibbert the wrong way with the kick.
Skelmersdale upped the tempo of their play, forcing Trafford onto the back foot. Adam Morning crossed from the left, Jackson headed on and Astbury saw his shot saved at the foot of the post by Read.
In the 75th minute Skelmersdale restored their advantage. Astbury swapping passes with Morning before finding the net.
Skelmersdale now looked in relative control. In the last ten minutes, Morning went close and then Read saved at Sean Millers feet after a move involving Chris Simm and Morning.
Trafford were looking tired and Simm realised it, three minutes from time he held the ball up looking for an opportunity to set up another raid on goal, however, Simm went on his own, a burst of speed followed and so did a shot into the bottom corner. The game was won.
SKELMERSDALE UNITED: Hibbert, Field, Holden, Hardwick ©, Wylie, Dunn, Carden (Miller, 73), Burton, Astbury (McCarthy, 87), Jackson (Simm, 79), Morning Subs (not used) Ince, Prince
TRAFFORD: Read, Beadle (Hackney, 82), Smart, Mason, Bayunu, Schofield, Payne, Andrews © (Palmer, 87), Oates, Fallon, Ashton Subs (not used) Jones, Moore, Allen
Referee: Danny Markham
Attendance: 215
SKELMERSDALE UNITED 3 TRAFFORD 1
By Neil Leatherbarrow
In case there were any doubters, Skelmersdale United’s championship dream is very much alive and kicking. Victory at the West Lancashire College Stadium over their Urmston based rivals leaves them only one point off the top of the Evo-Stik Premier Division as leaders Chorley have turned a spring wobble into a real stagger.
Skelmersdale took only five minutes take the lead and although Trafford levelled with a penalty, goals in 75 and 87 minutes gave them what in the end was a comfortable victory.
The fifth minute opener was swift and incisive. The ball was played out of defence to Mark Jackson; he held the ball up and sliced it through the Trafford defence to Dean Astbury who fired it into the far corner.
Skelmersdale had started well and the Ken Abram Ltd Man of the Match Lewis Field almost made it two in the 17th minute, storming down the right, exchanging passes before stinging the hands of Trafford goalkeeper Tom Read.
Trafford are kings of the counterattack so Skelmersdale had to be on their toes, a strategy demonstrated in the 20th minute when Rory Fallon sent the ball fizzing across the face of the Skelmersdale goal.
Soon Field was at it again, this time setting up Astbury for a shot that was saved at his feet by keeper Read, later followed by a Jackson header that went just wide.
Astbury had a goal disallowed for offside in the 53rd minute, then brought another save out of Read a minute later as Skelmersdale searched for a second goal.
Trafford rallied. Zac Hibbert saved from a Tom Schofield snapshot then in the 64th minute Shelton Payne ran down a loose ball before heading into the Skelmersdale area, he went to ground as Tom Hardwick challenged him and a penalty was given. Payne sent Hibbert the wrong way with the kick.
Skelmersdale upped the tempo of their play, forcing Trafford onto the back foot. Adam Morning crossed from the left, Jackson headed on and Astbury saw his shot saved at the foot of the post by Read.
In the 75th minute Skelmersdale restored their advantage. Astbury swapping passes with Morning before finding the net.
Skelmersdale now looked in relative control. In the last ten minutes, Morning went close and then Read saved at Sean Millers feet after a move involving Chris Simm and Morning.
Trafford were looking tired and Simm realised it, three minutes from time he held the ball up looking for an opportunity to set up another raid on goal, however, Simm went on his own, a burst of speed followed and so did a shot into the bottom corner. The game was won.
SKELMERSDALE UNITED: Hibbert, Field, Holden, Hardwick ©, Wylie, Dunn, Carden (Miller, 73), Burton, Astbury (McCarthy, 87), Jackson (Simm, 79), Morning Subs (not used) Ince, Prince
TRAFFORD: Read, Beadle (Hackney, 82), Smart, Mason, Bayunu, Schofield, Payne, Andrews © (Palmer, 87), Oates, Fallon, Ashton Subs (not used) Jones, Moore, Allen
Referee: Danny Markham
Attendance: 215