Post by Kev Panther on Apr 9, 2014 18:28:22 GMT
SKELMERSDALE SHOW GUTS IN FIGHT BACK
SKELMERSDALE UNITED 2 WORKSOP TOWN 1
By Neil Leatherbarrow
After the trauma suffered by Skelmersdale United over the last few weeks it would have been easy to curl up and die when they went behind to promotion chasing Worksop Town, but it appeared to spur them on, to the extent that Tommy Lawson’s injury ravaged team secured victory via a late Kenny Strickland goal, after finishing much the stronger outfit.
Before the match Tommy Lawson said; “I have asked players to play here that are not 100% fit, it is not normally my policy to do that, but we need to win this one.” The spirit and graft that the players showed is a credit to each and every one of them.
Worksop are a team that open a game at a tremendous pace and they caused Skelmersdale some early problems. Zac Hibbert tipped a Jack Muldoon shot over the crossbar, and then Tom Hardwick put in a well-timed tackle to foil Leon Mettam.
In the 10th minute Worksop’s Shane Clarke tumbled to the ground alongside Hardwick and a free-kick was given inside the penalty area “D”. While everyone was expecting a curling free-kick into the top right hand corner, the Worksop number ten drove the ball low into the left side of the Skelmersdale goal to make it 1-0.
Skelmersdale almost immediately levelled, Strickland having a header cleared off the Worksop goal-line, before Aaron Turner fired over the crossbar.
Worksop continued to press, but gradually Skelmersdale took the edge off the visitor’s effectiveness and by half-time matters were pretty even. Though seconds before the interval Connor McCarthy went between two Worksop defenders, tripped and no penalty was given. Let’s just say Tommy Lawson’s face on the touchline looked like thunder.
In the 48th minute, Mark Jackson set up McCarthy, but Worksop goalkeeper Jonathan Stewart kept the impressive eighteen year old at bay.
Worksop continued to press, but the attacks got weaker and fewer, because Skelmersdale were establishing control.
In the 59th minute the breakthrough arrived, in a very “unSkemlike” manner. The 50005 Taxis Skelmersdale Man of the Match Turner sent a long ball over the Worksop back-line Ashley Dunn set off in pursuit, and steered the ball past Stewart for the equaliser.
Skelmersdale were now having more of the play and the Worksop attacks became sporadic.
Stewart saved from McCarthy, while the best the League’s top scorer Mettam could do at the other end was waste a rare opportunity.
In the 84th minute McCarthy who quickly formed a combination with Mark Jackson set Jackson up but Stewart rescued Worksop, soon afterwards McCarthy went close himself with a header.
The crucial moment came bang on ninety minutes. Strickland carried the ball down the right and played the ball into Jackson’s feet; he held the ball up then released Strickland behind the Worksop defence, from where he found the far corner of the net.
Tommy Lawson’s Assistant Manager Brian Richardson summed the game up well, when he said; “We showed real guts. . . They blew themselves out in the first-half and saved nothing for the second-half, we were the better team in the second-half and our determination brought us through.”
SKELMERSDALE UNITED 2 WORKSOP TOWN 1
By Neil Leatherbarrow
After the trauma suffered by Skelmersdale United over the last few weeks it would have been easy to curl up and die when they went behind to promotion chasing Worksop Town, but it appeared to spur them on, to the extent that Tommy Lawson’s injury ravaged team secured victory via a late Kenny Strickland goal, after finishing much the stronger outfit.
Before the match Tommy Lawson said; “I have asked players to play here that are not 100% fit, it is not normally my policy to do that, but we need to win this one.” The spirit and graft that the players showed is a credit to each and every one of them.
Worksop are a team that open a game at a tremendous pace and they caused Skelmersdale some early problems. Zac Hibbert tipped a Jack Muldoon shot over the crossbar, and then Tom Hardwick put in a well-timed tackle to foil Leon Mettam.
In the 10th minute Worksop’s Shane Clarke tumbled to the ground alongside Hardwick and a free-kick was given inside the penalty area “D”. While everyone was expecting a curling free-kick into the top right hand corner, the Worksop number ten drove the ball low into the left side of the Skelmersdale goal to make it 1-0.
Skelmersdale almost immediately levelled, Strickland having a header cleared off the Worksop goal-line, before Aaron Turner fired over the crossbar.
Worksop continued to press, but gradually Skelmersdale took the edge off the visitor’s effectiveness and by half-time matters were pretty even. Though seconds before the interval Connor McCarthy went between two Worksop defenders, tripped and no penalty was given. Let’s just say Tommy Lawson’s face on the touchline looked like thunder.
In the 48th minute, Mark Jackson set up McCarthy, but Worksop goalkeeper Jonathan Stewart kept the impressive eighteen year old at bay.
Worksop continued to press, but the attacks got weaker and fewer, because Skelmersdale were establishing control.
In the 59th minute the breakthrough arrived, in a very “unSkemlike” manner. The 50005 Taxis Skelmersdale Man of the Match Turner sent a long ball over the Worksop back-line Ashley Dunn set off in pursuit, and steered the ball past Stewart for the equaliser.
Skelmersdale were now having more of the play and the Worksop attacks became sporadic.
Stewart saved from McCarthy, while the best the League’s top scorer Mettam could do at the other end was waste a rare opportunity.
In the 84th minute McCarthy who quickly formed a combination with Mark Jackson set Jackson up but Stewart rescued Worksop, soon afterwards McCarthy went close himself with a header.
The crucial moment came bang on ninety minutes. Strickland carried the ball down the right and played the ball into Jackson’s feet; he held the ball up then released Strickland behind the Worksop defence, from where he found the far corner of the net.
Tommy Lawson’s Assistant Manager Brian Richardson summed the game up well, when he said; “We showed real guts. . . They blew themselves out in the first-half and saved nothing for the second-half, we were the better team in the second-half and our determination brought us through.”