Market Trip Sees United Defeated

Market Drayton Town 2 Skelmersdale United 1

By Simon Driscoll

After the midweek Liverpool Senior Cup exit, United resumed league duties with a 2-1 defeat away to 10-man Market Drayton Town.

All three goals came in the space of six minutes with stunning efforts through Charlie Knowles (21) and William Dunne (23) before Jud Ellis restored the hosts' lead on 27 minutes. The hosts ended with ten men after the late dismissal of Lyndon Campbell after a fracas on 81 minutes.

Paul McNally brought Dimitrios Christou and Thomas Robinson into the starting lineup replacing suspended duo Phil Mooney and Tom Molyneux. Town had the first chance of the game with Charlie Knowles curling free-kick collected by Terry Smith inside the first minute.

A clever cross from Glynn Coney saw Daniel Beddows head past the post before another Knowles free-kick forced a United scramble with Smith collecting comfortably. United had the goal-frame to thank eight minutes in as Coney's free-kick was flicked on by at the front post and cannoned off the far upright. Knowles drew a strong save from Smith from close range while Louis Keegan fired over the bar at the other end and another point-blank save from Smith denied Knowles a minute later. Town continued to threaten with Coney sweeping a shot across goal before a Knowles run saw Smith deny him yet again but with the rebound falling to Coney, he turned and picked out Knowles who curled a stunning effort over Smith into the top corner for 1-0.

United levelled within two minutes in similarly spectacular style, a mazy run from David Moore allowed him to find Luke Duffy out wide, he crossed low for Leon Arnasalam who laid off for Dunne to fire past the diving Ash Rawlins into the top corner for 1-1.

Town could have restored the lead inside a minute with Coney forcing a superb save from Smith before the hosts did retake the lead on 26 minutes. A run from Desean Martin saw him find Coney who picked out Jud Ellis with the forward slotting past Smith for 2-1.

United were unfortunate not to level on the half-hour as Dunne's angled free-kick was cleared achingly across his own goal by a Town defender. At the other end, a rasping effort from Martin drew a strong stop from Smith with half-time looming. Both sides made a quiet start to the second half before a dash on goal from Martin saw him denied a chance to shoot by Smith's reflexes, the United keeper was powerless minutes later though as a long range effort from Knowles cannoned back off the crossbar.

Town had the ball in the net for a third time on 77 minutes with the effort disallowed due to offside after a header had rebounded off the post. The game descended into chaos with eight minutes remaining as a tangle between Dunne and Martin resulted in a fracas between the two sides that saw both players booked and Town midfielder Lyndon Campbell dismissed for his part in the melee.

United should have levelled late on as a low cross from Moore found substitute Declan Daniels who slotted the ball narrowly past the near post with what was to be the last real chance of the game. The final whistle sounded minutes later completing a losing run in November for United but with a defeat that offered postives for manager Paul McNally.

Market Drayton Town - Rawlins, Gregory, Ballard, Hartlebury, McMullen, Martin (Wells 86), Campbell, Beddows (c), Ellis (Howell 71), Coney,Knowles. Subs not used- Arnold, Irvine, Russell.

Skelmersdale United - Smith (c), Banks,O'Hara, Keegan, Christou, Robinson (Duke 68), Griffiths, Dunne, Moore, Duffy (Daniels 68), Arnasalam (Yeldrem 57). Subs not used- Webb,McLoughlin.

Referee- K.Buckley
Att-91