The goals flowed at Stormy Corner on Saturday as the Liverpool County FA Senior Cup Final had the spectators on the edge of their seats for the entire ninety minutes after a breathless opening period which saw Skelmersdale leading 2-1 after 330 seconds, this after Skem had grabbed the lead inside 24 seconds and AFC Liverpool had equalised in the 75th second.

In the end Skelmersdale lifted the cup perhaps a little more easily than the margin might suggest, but none the less they were grateful to hear the full-time whistle as Liverpool staged a dramatic last gasp fightback. It is fair to say that nobody went home early.

The Skelmersdale opener was swift and incise, Kenny Strickland put the ball down the right-wing, where Dan Mitchley took it to the by-line and pulled it back across goal, Scott Bakkor timed his run to the far post to perfection and headed the ball inside the post.

While everybody was busy looking at their watches working out how quick the first goal was, a move down Liverpool’s right-wing saw the ball delivered to Franny Barry inside the Skelmersdale area, he fired across goal and Ryan Cox slid in to equalise.

Just five and a half minutes had elapsed when the Brightoffice Limited Skelmersdale United Man of the Match Paul Woolcott saw a powerful shot parried by Liverpool goalkeeper Ryan Jones, the ball ran free and Aidan Kirkbride ran in the restore Skelmersdale’s lead.

The visitors were still threatening and in the 12th minute Steve Jones put a free-kick just inside of the near-post to level matters up again.

However, in the 17th minute it was 3-2 to Skelmersdale. Strickland’s free-kick was lifted into the Liverpool penalty area, Rob McIntosh rose above everyone to head the ball at goal, but instead it was diverted away by Nathan Valentine’s hand, leaving Mitchley to slot away the resulting penalty in his now customary fashion.

Skelmersdale extended their lead in the 28th minute after a spell in which they controlled affairs, a cross to the far post found the head of McIntosh, he headed the ball on and Bakkor got his second of the afternoon with another header.

It was almost 5-2 in the 32nd minute and only a superb tip-over the bar by Ryan Jones saved Liverpool after what was arguably the move of the match, Strickland found Kirkbride who played the ball wide to Valtar Fernandes, the former Sporting Lisbon man hoisted the ball into the penalty area where Kirkbride after following up his pass with a run met it with a powerful header.

The last few minutes before the interval saw Liverpool come back into the game and on 40 minutes they struck back. Barry received the ball in the Skelmersdale area, controlled well and slotted home.

It could even have been level at the break despite the amount of possession Skelmersdale had throughout the half as a counterattack down the right-wing resulted in a Tom Williams shot that Andy Paxton saved with his legs, before the ball was thankfully thumped clear by the Skem defence.

The second-half couldn’t possibly live up the first one and in reality it didn’t in that “it was only exciting rather than stunning.”

In the opening moments Mitchley had an effort saved then Woolcott who by now was running the middle of the park went very close. Eventually though the respective defences got a grip on the game for a while.

That changed in the 64th minute. Fernandes sent a cross curling into the Liverpool penalty area from the right, it was a close call as to whether Mitchley had beaten the Liverpool offside trap or not, either way, the striker stretched out a boot and diverted the ball into the Liverpool net. Both sets of players turned their eyes to the assistant referee, he pointed his flag to the halfway line and Skelmersdale celebrated going 5-3 up.

It looked all over, Skelmersdale were having far more of the ball by now and Liverpool’s attacks were at best sporadic and when Strickland had a close shot blocked it was almost confirmed by a sixth goal.

In fairness Skelmersdale probably eased off a bit, but credit has to be given to Liverpool’s Steve Jones who throughout the game proved he is something of a free-kick specialist, his 88th minute kick fell to substitute Josh Purcell, who prodded the ball into the Skelmersdale net to make it 5-4.

The significance of the goal is that due to the rules of the competition it really put the pressure on Skelmersdale, because an equaliser before the end would send the game straight to penalties without extra-time and hence would give Liverpool a great chance.

They pressed hard, even sending goalkeeper Ryan Jones up for a late corner. But Skelmersdale held on and lifted the trophy.

It had been a real footballing occasion and AFC Liverpool made a contribution, they are a credit to their division, there wasn’t a bad tackle in the whole game and both teams’ attitudes made it a great game for the spectator. Skelmersdale deservedly have something to show for a good season, which they will end next Saturday when Stourbridge make a first ever visit to Skelmersdale for a 3pm kick off.
SKELMERSDALE UNITED: Paxton, Fernandes, Holden, Wisdom, McIntosh ©, Burton, Strickland,(Whittington) Kirkbride, Mitchley, Woolcott, Bakkor Subs (not used) Mooney, Wright, Rendell, Bellew

AFC Liverpool: Jones R., Mahama. Williams (Purcell, 45), Mills (Bogg, 55), Buckley, Valentine, Loughlin D. (Morgan, 74), Loughlin L., Jones S., Barry, Cox Subs (not used) Avraam, Nield

Referee: Ian Hussin
Attendance: 335