MAGIC MITCHLEY SINKS HANLEY

MAGIC MITCHLEY SINKS HANLEY
Hanley Town 2-4 Skelmersdale United

Skelmersdale United put in a thrilling performance as they came away from Stoke based Hanley Town with all 3 points, thanks to a Danny Mitchley Hat trick.

Hanley included in their ranks Player Manager Carl Dickinson who made over 400 appearances in the football league and Centre half Ryan Shotton, playing for Middlesborough in the Championship just two seasons ago.

United made their intentions clear from the first minute with both Adbul Djalo and Mitchley having goal bound shots blocked by some frantic defending, it didn’t take star man Mitchley long to open his account, Morris and Griffiths combined with the latter placing the ball at the far post with the experienced striker on hand to guide home after just 7 minutes.

Two minutes later and Mitchley was on hand again, a free kick delivered by Kenny Strickland was headed down by Mike Grogan with Mitchley again finishing at close quarters. Mitchley thought he had grabbed his hat trick as he again found the better of centre half Shotton, but the linesman had other ideas, the goal not given.

United had dominated the first half hours proceedings and Elliott Morris confirmed United’s supremacy with a well taken goal that beat the keeper at the near post. United were so much in control keeper Andy Coughlan had not been called into action for the first 45 minutes.

Hanley made 3 substitutions after the break, bringing on some firepower in the shape of Chris Dagnall (100 goals in the football league) & Louie Potts (50 goals for Port Vale) but they still had no match for United as a Southworth cross was just headed over from the rampant Mitchley, Djalo had a shot from close range blocked and an audacious lob from Morris was diverted wide by a scrambling defender.

Mitchley finally grabbed his well-deserved hat trick, outsmarting everyone to fire home from 6 yards in the 67th minute to give Skem a comprehensive 4-0 lead.

As the United legs began to tire in the hot August afternoon Hanley were given a lifeline, a cross from the left found Dagnall who headed back across goal to find Lawrie in acres of space to head home on 74 minutes. Four minutes later it was two for the hosts as Shotton fired home through a crowded goalmouth, to give Skem a nervy final 10 minutes.

United made some changes but whilst Hanley could bring on former football league players McNally had 2 teenagers in Benaly & Nicholson who offered fresh legs in the sapping sun as Skem held on to claim a well deserved victory.

At the final whistle Shotton embraced the United 3 goal hero, knowing he had been out foxed by the wily striker.

Manager McNally said after the game “delighted with the performance, we dominated for first 70 or so minutes, the lads put in a terrific shift out there. Danny was outstanding, when he is in that kind of mood there is no one in this division that can touch him. A great game for the neutrals, glad we have the three points”

UNITED– Coughlan, Griffiths, Hont, Herbert, Grogan, Strickland, Morris, Sheen, Mitchley, Djalo, Southworth, Subs Jamie Nicholson, Benaly, Brannigan

HANLEY TOWN- Harrison, Thompson, Walford, Sanders, Cotterill, Shotton, Campbell, Dickinson, Glover, Blake, Lawrie, Subs Chapman, Stubbs, Dodds, Dagnall