Those Skelmersdale supporters that made the long trip to the North Yorkshire coast for Skelmersdale United’s season finale got the reward of an entertaining encounter at the Turnbull Ground for their efforts. However, they again conceded a late goal after holding the upper hand for much of the game, leaving manager Tommy Lawson with a feeling of frustration.

A gusting wind and bright sunlight greeted the two teams and for a few minutes it was the hosts that took the initiative but their best effort a Matthew Waters shot at the far post was dealt with by Skelmersdale’s ever present goalkeeper Martin Fearon.

By the 14th minute Skem started to get going and a defender gave away a free-kick by handling Paul Woolcott’s attempt on goal from 20 yards, Louis Corrigan seeing his resulting free-kick deflected by the defensive wall.

Whitby’s Dale Hopson put a shot wide on 21 minutes, then after a neat interchange of passes between Vince Bailey, Scott Bakkor and Woolcott, the latter was denied by a tremendous interception by Waters.

Towards half-time Skelmersdale became more dominant and Chris Almond went close on 36 minutes, then Bailey found Max Hazeldine with a lovely pass but the youngster’s first touch let him down.

The pressure was building as Skelmersdale’s passing game forced Whitby onto the back foot, although in one counterattack Waters found space to send a skimming volley at the Skem goal.

Two minutes from half-time Skelmersdale struck after a mesmerising build-up involving Bailey and Bakkor put Woolcott into space on the right, his precise cross found Hazeldine who side-footed home from 10 yards with a first time connection.

The striker almost doubled his and Skelmersdale’s tally two minutes into the second-half, Tony Rendell headed on a right-wing corner and Hazeldine headed over the crossbar at the far post when maybe he might have scored.

A minute later though there was a heart-stopping moment in the Skelmersdale goalmouth, from a corner Richard Pell’s header was headed off the line by Bailey, then Callum Martin’s attempt with the rebound was blocked on the line by Bailey, who at the end of the game deservedly won the match sponsors award as away Man of the Match.

There were loud appeals for a Skelmersdale penalty on 53 minutes when Almond’s shot was blocked, but referee Shane Sugden who spent the afternoon infuriating both team’s players and supporters turned them down.

Just before the hour mark Fearon saved from Anthony Hume, while on the break, Hazeldine hit the outside of the post at the other end. It was developing into that sort of game.

The goal frame came to Whitby’s rescue again on 63 minutes as a Corrigan free-kick crashed against the bar, and then only a superb tackle by Jamie Poole kept out Almond after Hazeldine set him up.
On the 68th minute Bailey was kept out by home goalkeeper Shane Bland as the game became more stretched as it headed towards the last twenty minutes.

Yorkshire is Frank Worthington’s homeland and a bit of skill by Whitby substitute Mikey Roberts almost produced the goal of the season on 73 minutes in a manner he made famous. After lifting the bouncing ball twice over Skelmersdale defenders, he found his volley saved by Fearon.

Skelmersdale had more chances on the day and on 81 minutes, Hazeldine fired wide then a minute later Almond brought another good save out of Bland.

However, on 87 minutes Whitby levelled via a tremendous free-kick, but that was not without some controversy. Mr Sugden awarded Whitby a free-kick around 35 yards from goal then decided he needed to yellow card Waters for a previous incident, in the this time the ball appeared to be moved forward, Hopson smashed home the dead-ball kick low into the corner from about 25 yards. Absolute credit to Hopson who you cannot blame for getting away with advancing the ball forward if the referee lets him get away with it. But in my opinion Mr Sugden had been far too interested in the finicky matters that surround a football match rather than getting the important matters right.

The Skelmersdale supporters that didn’t travel missed out on a good game, Tommy Lawson commented after the match; “The lads did well and we played some lovely football, we were on top for most of the game, but again I am left frustrated by a referee’s performance.”

WHITBY TOWN: Bland, Martin (McWilliams, 63), Howes, Poole, Pell, Robinson ©, Waters, Gell (Charmley, 45), Scarth (Roberts, 63), Hume, Hopson Subs (not used) McTiernan, Dixon

SKELMERSDALE UNITED: Fearon, Strickland, Corrigan, McIntosh ©, Rendell, Brewster, Bakkor, Bakkor, Woolcott, Hazeldine, Bailey, Almond (Vassallo, 89) Subs (not used) Mooney, Donaldson, McCarthy

Referee: Shane Sugden (Bishop Auckland)

Attendance: 232