SIX FROM SIX FOR SKELMERSDALE

SIX FROM SIX FOR SKELMERSDALE

SKELMERSDALE UNITED 2 WORKINGTON 0

By Neil Leatherbarrow

Skelmersdale United continued their great start to the season by making it six points out of a possible six points with a win at home to last season’s league runners-up from Cumbria. Completing quite an opening double as it follows hot on the heels of a victory away at Ilkeston, the team that lost in the promotion play-off final at the end of last season, hence two of the strongly fancied teams for promotion.
The first-half was much as expected, both teams playing some good football and there was plenty of goalmouth action at both ends.
Skelmersdale goalkeeper Martin Fearon was called into action in the sixth minute as he tipped a Joe McGee free-kick over the crossbar.
Skem replied. Anthony Hickey fired over the Workington bar, before Dan Mitchley nipped through but saw his chip over advancing goalkeeper Alex Mitchell also go over the target.
In the 21st minute Mitchley went close again, this time Mitchell saving with his feet after the striker held off a defenders challenge.
The final highlight of the half from a home perspective saw Mitchell dive full-length to push a Louis Corrigan free-kick around the post.
Workington got off sharply after the restart and the impressive McGee soon found space on the left-hand side, but his shot went into the side netting.
The breakthrough came in the 53rd minute. Skelmersdale won a corner on the right and it was fired in under the crossbar, goalkeeper Mitchell flapped and the ball dropped amid mayhem. Rob McIntosh had a shot blocked and his rebound effort met the same fate, the ball ran to Tony Rendell, his initial effort came close to or did cross the line, before his rebound effort definitely did cross the line to give Skelmersdale the lead.
For the next fifteen minutes Workington pressed, but Skelmersdale defended resolutely. McIntosh headed a very dangerous looking cross to safety and in the 61st minute, Fearon did what he is legendary for and at the same time earned himself the Messenger Express Man of the Match award, making a tremendous reaction parry to keep out Matty Tymon’s goalbound header. It was a pivotal point in the game.
Skelmersdale were more than a threat themselves and only a miraculous block by Workington’s best player Jake Simpson kept the margin at one goal, a fine build-up saw Dean Astbury exchange passes with Hickey before shooting low at goal, however, somehow Simpson got a foot to.
In the 72nd minute Skelmersdale doubled their advantage. Paul Woolcott carried the ball then released Corrigan on the left, he crossed to Astbury, who fed the ball wide right to Hickey, and he rolled it perfectly to Mitchley, who unleashed a powerful shot into the Workington net from 20 yards.
In the 82nd minute, Fearon made another save, this time at Phil McLuckie’s feet, before at the other end Mitchell made a similar save at Mitchley’s feet.
The win leaves Skelmersdale top, for what that is worth after two league games, but it represents a great start for Skem, especially with the stiff opening two fixtures they faced. They are at home to Halesowen on Saturday, 3pm kick off.

SKELMERSDALE UNITED: Fearon, Mooney, Holden, McIntosh ©, Rendell, Burton (Strickland, 75), Hickey, Woolcott, Mitchley, Kinsella (Astbury, 64), Corrigan Subs (not used) Hardwick, Donaldson, Staunton-Turner

WORKINGTON: Mitchell, Simpson, Rowntree, May, Smith, McLuckie, Allison (Arnison, 77), Wright, Tymon, McGee, Tinnion Subs (not used) Calvert, Earl, Salmon, McCartney

Referee: Nick Greenhalgh

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