A GOOD EFFORT BY HARDWORKING SKELMERSDALE

A GOOD EFFORT BY HARDWORKING SKELMERSDALE

WORKINGTON 2 SKELMERSDALE UNITED 1

After turning around a goal down at half-time up on the Cumbrian coast, arguably justifiably, Skelmersdale United fought back and deservedly equalised in spectacular fashion around the hour mark, before having to admit defeat to a goal by former Southport and Ramsbottom striker Rueben Jerome.
Skem manager Richard Brodie included new signings Ethan Devine in midfield and Warren Gerrard in defence at Borough Park, the former Football League club still drawing a gate just below 600.
The hosts started the game well and it couldn’t be argued that they were the better team in the first-half and after just eleven minutes Skem ran their luck a little bit when Dave Symington hit the post the rebound being netted by Jerome but a raised flag rescued Richard Brodie’s men by signalling offside.
Skelmersdale weren’t out of though and at the other end the other assistant denied Elliott Morris a goal with a similarly lifted flag.
Symington who has been at Borough Park for many a season was creating many a problem for the United defence and on the half-hour he struck, Scott Allison gave him possession and he cut in from the left and again put in a vicious dipping shot with his right-foot, this time it went inside the near-post and put Workington 1-0 up.
The rest of the half saw Workington in possession but Skelmersdale defending well and their efforts kept it to the one goal as the teams returned to the dressing room at the interval.
In the dressing rooms Skem manager Richard Brodie did a good job because his team emerged and grabbed the game by the throat for a good proportion of the half.
After pushing Workington onto the back foot eventually Skem equalised and it was a tremendous goal. On the hour Jordan Southworth levelled, a Skem attack resulted in the ball being cleared to around fifty yards from goal, Southworth brought the ball down and advanced, with defenders backing off he let go a right foot shot from 30 yards that left home goalkeeper Jim Atkinson grasping at thin air as the ball dipped into the top corner to make it 1-1.
If Atkinson could do nothing about the Skem goal, he soon frustrated them keeping out attempts from Darren Brannigan and Morris that might have made it a different story here.
As it was Workington restored their lead on 67 minutes. A long ball was helped on and the lively Symington put in a powerful shot that Skelmersdale goalkeeper Andy Coughlan did well to parry away, however Jerome responded quickest to the loose ball and slotted in to make it 2-1.
The goal changed the balance of the game and a boosted Workington finished strongly in the last twenty minutes or so. Coughlan saved from Steve Rigg and pulled off an excellent save from Symington.
As the clock ticked towards a finish Skem almost snatched an equaliser, Morris got into the clear and just as he was about to pull the trigger a superb challenge by Matty Clarke denied Skem.
After the game among the home fans there was a lot of credit for Skelmersdale, many singling out manager Brodie for the way his enthusiastic young team made it difficult for Workington and played some good enterprising and entertaining football.
WORKINGTON: Atkinson, Clarke, Birch, Wordsworth, Smith, Leslie, Symington, Allison, Rigg, Jerome, Tinnion © Subs Moran, Mahone, Webster, Reilly, Eccles
SKELMERSDALE UNITED: Coughlan, Gerrard, Griffiths, Lees, Grogan, Strickland ©, Morris, Devine, Brannigan, Clair, Southworth Subs Hont, Herbert, Djalo, Benaly, Brodie
Referee: C. Joyce
Attendance: 593