SECOND-HALF SHOW BRINGS ENCOURAGING VICTORY

Written by Neil Leatherbarrow, Image by Les Gallop

Skelmersdale United had a point to prove on Tuesday night against North-West Counties side Bootle, a local rivalry that was increased because the visiting side included two former Skelmersdale United stalwarts adding a bit of spice to the meeting.
The first thirty five minutes of the game was fairly even, though Bootle finished strongest, forcing Skelmersdale to hang on for the ten minutes before the interval.
Conor Smith maybe should have done better for Skem in the 17th minute, set up by Andy Owens, Smith fired wide from around 18 yards with arguably the most threatening of the hosts first-half moves.
In those last ten minutes, Ryan Cox initially unnerved Skem after he was allowed to turn in the box and saw his shot hit the foot of the post on 35 minutes. In 41 & 42 minutes Bootle went close again, Skelmersdale keeper Jack Sims coming to the rescue twice.
First the young goalkeeper who is on loan from Blackpool tipped a fierce drive over his crossbar, then he clutched a powerful Tony Rendell header to his chest from the ensuing corner, the latter a great chance, though how much Sims knew about the effort is debateable.
The game changed in the 53rd minute. The experienced Owens brought the ball down and ran at the very heart of the Bootle defence, he beat one man and after entering the 18 yard box went down under a challenge from Paul Woolcott, a penalty was given. Owens stroked home the spot kick himself, sending the Bootle keeper the wrong way.
Bootle asserted after the goal and Tony Rendell was again unlucky to hit the Skelmersdale post again on 68 minutes. Both sides made a large number of substitutions in the last twenty minutes, one a very interesting and high profile triallist for Skelmersdale who were the better team for the last twenty minutes.

The energetic Bevan Burey who had worried Bootle all night, went close for Skem and but for a magnificent dive at his feet Owens would surely have made it 2-0. Skelmersdale manager Alan Rogers had no need to curse the bad luck though, just before the final whistle Skelmersdale won a corner on the left, where pushed forward for the dead-ball kick, defender Michael Vaughan-Muscat lost his marker a netted from about six yards.
Taken as a whole Skelmersdale were the better side. The game had been the closely fought encounter you would expect from a local derby encounter, but Skelmersdale had that touch of experience in their side that made the difference.
Skelmersdale entertain Gresley from Evo-Stik Division One South in the finale to their pre-season programme on Saturday, it has seen mixed results, though the exercise of pre-season fixtures is to prepare a team for the competitive season ahead, Skelmersdale are definitely better prepared now than they were three weeks ago. The season starts at Brighouse Town on 12th August, on this evidence I think there is every chance that they will win.