Skelmersdale Utd 0-2 Hyde United

United fail to take chances

United again faced unbeaten opposition in the shape of Hyde United, it was a good first half for the blues as they dominated possession with plenty of control and moved the ball around well on the damp pitch after heavy early morning rain, without really troubling the visiting keeper, Andy Owens going agonisingly close mid way through the period. It all promised so much for the second half

It all came unstuck within 5 minutes of the restart, first Nathan Porritt who was a danger all day made a move down the left, his cross to the far post was headed back and from 20 yards Big Khamsuk drilled the ball low and hard past keeper Sims, two minutes later the game was to be made more difficult for the blues as Gareth Roberts was dismissed for what really was two innocuous offences, neither which warranted a card, the first a slight tug of the shirt and the second a tackle on the edge of the box, Roberts might have got away with the tackle had it not been for the two Hyde centre halves who dashed more than 60 yards to confront the referee. It was uncalled for and unnecessary.
With United's back to the wall, Hyde applied more pressure and the control that Skem had show for much of the game, deserted them, Hyde came in waves and it was really no surprise when the second came, Porritt again found room on the left and this time powered into the box, his shot found the bottom far corner again leaving Sims with little chance.
At 2-0 it was game over but United are no mugs and they had their best spell in the final 10 minutes, Brodie going close with a turn in the box that was scrambled away and Codlings flicked header just going wide. Jack Stewart had the closest effort as his shot from the left whizzed past the far post, if that had gone in it could have been a nervous few minutes for the visitors.
United need to take their chances when they come, they were on top for much of the game but again they failed to capitalise, Alan Rogers will have to work hard to get his forward line firing on all cylinders in the upcoming games against sides which like Skem are at the wrong end of the table.

United team- Jack Sims, Jason Jeffries, Gareth Roberts, Callum Jones, Michael Vaughan-Muscat, Danny Ventre, Kevin Cringle, Bevan Burey, Andy Owens, Richard Brodie, John Crane, Subs Phil Mooney, Lewis Codling, Jack Stewart, not used Stephen Gillespie, Seb Bradshaw