Skelmersdale United’s longest serving player Kenny Strickland made it a celebration double at Stormy Corner last night, not only did he hit the Skelmersdale winner with a spectacular free-kick, but he became father of a son “Bobby” the night before. The goal putting Skelmersdale 3 points clear at the top of the Evo-Stik Premier Division, making Kenny the most popular dad in town.

In the tenth minute the game sprang to life and much of it was due to the game being “blessed” with a referee who clearly wanted to be the centre of attention. With a through ball heading his way,

Skelmersdale striker Dan Mitchley twisted away from his, marker Alex Nicholson, Mitchley was tripped and went down, a penalty was duly given. Then referee Kelvin Sarsfield approached Blyth number four Jordan Watson with his book out, the player naturally protested, Mr Sarsfield eventually spoke to his assistant, approached Nicholson instead and showed him the red card, whether he was the last man and hence should have been sent off is very open to debate, but off went Nicholson.

Mitchley took the penalty himself and hit the post, leaving Blyth a man down, but not a goal down.

Much to the spectator’s frustration, play was broken up at regular intervals from this point, mainly due to Mr Sarsfield’s insistence that any minor misdemeanour be punished by a free-kick. From one free-kick Skelmersdale’s Tom Ince saw a shot deflected wide.

In the 36th minute Mr Sarsfield evened matters up, not with anything positive, but by the dismissing Skelmersdale defender Rob Bodie for a second yellow card. Both of which like Blyth’s Nicholson were open to debate.

Back to affairs not directly involving Mr Sarsfield, towards the interval Skelmersdale had a period in control and it proved significant. In the 42nd minute a very slick move between Curtis Thompson and Peter Wylie resulted in the latter putting a cross onto Mitchley’s head, but the flicked header went just wide.

The pressure continued and in the 45th minute, Blyth defender Nathan Buddle mistimed a challenge on Danny Wisdom and a free-kick was given. Strickland lined-up and sent a curling 25 yard shot over the wall and well out of the reach of Blyth goalkeeper Peter Jeffries to make it 1-0 to Skelmersdale.

Soon after the break, both teams had chances to score, Blyth’s Chris Bell wastefully putting his opportunity well off target, Skelmersdale’s Connor McCarthy being thwarted by a great save from Jeffries, the keeper saving at the strikers feet.

Later, McCarthy hit the bar with a header and down the other end Skelmersdale’s Martin Fearon made a top class save from Ian Watson.

At the final whistle the Blyth supporters were even more upset with Mr Sarsfield than their Skelmersdale counterparts, and as the teams left the pitch the man in black received a rather less enthusiastic round of applause for his contribution than the twenty two players that left the field before him, with “Father Kenny” deservedly getting the loudest.

SKELMERSDALE UNITED: Fearon, Wylie, Wisdom, McIntosh ©, Bodie, Simpson (Kirkbride, 84), Thompson, Strickland, Mitchley, McCarthy (Sumner, 87), Ince Subs (not used) Mooney, Monaghan, Lloyd

BLYTH SPARTANS: Jeffries, Nicholson, Watson I., Watson J., Buddle, Hooks, Bell, Hutchinson (Sayer, 79), Rivers, Wearmouth (Robinson, 61), Dale © Subs (not used) Cummings, Mullen, Maguire

Referee: Kelvin Sarsfield

Attendance: 248