A sell out crowd at the JMO Sports Park witnessed a thrilling FA Cup encounter that in the true traditions of the competition was in the balance until the very last kick.
Skelmersdale had taken the lead just before the interval, then their local rivals from up the M58 fought back and just when you thought a well organised Skem defence had done enough Bootle levelled with only eight minutes remaining on the clock. But it was Skelmersdale that had the edge and restored their advantage four minutes from the end, leaving the last minutes a tense wait for both sets of supporters.
As you would expect from a derby game between two evenly matched teams the opening exchanges were closely fought out but it was Skem that went closest to drawing blood when after Mike Grogan had lofted the ball into the penalty area Mini Adegbenro put a header low towards the corner of the net, but goalkeeper Ryan Jones made a terrific save at the foot of his post.
From there the game see sawed and despite both teams best attempts defences were on top.
For Bootle a John Connolly free kick went close but Skem goalkeeper Ben Barnes tipped the 20 yard shot over his crossbar, before a Ben Hodkinson shot was turned away for a corner by Barnes. For Skem Callum Preston made a surging run that resulted in a shot 25 yards that whistled past the Bootle post.

Bootle had a good chance on 28 minutes when a cross to the far post found Hodkinson but his header went wide.
Gradually as the half progressed Skelmersdale began to get more of the possession for a spell but Bootle were holding them off well.
However five minutes from half-time Skelmersdale found the key to unlock the Bootle backline. Jack Grimshaw got away down the right hand side and pulled the ball back from the goal line, the ball going right into the heart of the penalty area, Jason Carey crashed in and with his chest put the ball into the net. By virtue of finishing the half stronger Skem just about deserved the lead.

The second-half was expected to see Bootle on the offensive, but five minutes in it was Skelmersdale who should have doubled their lead. A long clearance by Barnes was headed on by Dan Mitchley putting Adegbenro in on an angle from the left side; however his right foot shot went marginally the wrong side of the far post. Skem would need that two goal lead by the end.
The large Bootle contingent in the crowd drove their team on but although they lifted balls into the goalmouth a well marshalled Skem defence limited them to efforts from distance.

Probably Bootle’s most dangerous moves saw Hodkinson firing wide and Ben Cartwright finishing a fifty yard dribble with a shot that Barnes did well to deal with.

The winning post started to appear in the distance for Skem with only eight minutes to go but a determined Bootle had other ideas. Barnes made a tremendous save from a close range shot but could only parry the ball away and it fell to a former Skelmersdale player to seemingly kill off Skem’s dreams, Hodkinson pouncing to equalise from inside the six yard box.
To their utmost credit Skelmersdale weren’t killed off though, they bounced straight back onto the attack.

On 86 minutes Alex Griffiths overlapped down the right wing and hoisted the ball to the far post, Grimshaw had lost his marker and faced with keeper Jones kept his cool to drive the ball inside the post. Skelmersdale celebrated and goalkeeper Barnes even ran the length of the pitch.

The rest saw a desperate Bootle laying siege but it was too late, Skelmersdale were not going to let them back into the game again and it was the hosts that will looking at the 2nd Qualifying Round draw on Friday lunchtime.

After the match in his interview with the Skelmersdale United website Manager Paul McNally with a smile the size of Skelmersdale said of the winning goal: “Fantastic response, what a finish by Jack, superb.” He added: “We had a few chances that I feared would come back and haunt us, you are not going to hold out against a team of their calibre for too long, I was gutted. Then a great goal wasn’t it.” There was no question it was a great goal and a memorable one too, it showed the spirit McNally has built up at Skem and a good season lies ahead.

SKELMERSDALE UNITED: Barnes, Herbert Preston, Murphy, Grogan, Peet (Ellams 76), J.Grimshaw, Carey (Wainwright 66), Mitchley, Griffiths, Adegbenro. Subs not used - Brodie, Glennon, Croughan, Ellis, O’Neill

Bootle- Jones, Halligan, Carberry, Coulton ((Williams)Hooper), Cartwright, Leamey, Brandon, Connolly (McQueen), Peterson, Peers, Hodkinson. Subs not used- Robson, McGowan, Woolcott.

Referee: Aran Hodgkinson

Attendance: 250