DEFENSIVE SLIP-UP SEES POINT DRIFT AWAY

DEFENSIVE SLIP-UP SEES POINT DRIFT AWAY

SKELMERSDALE UNITED 1 SUTTON COLDFIELD TOWN 2

By Neil Leatherbarrow

A 71st minute defensive slip up cost Skelmersdale United at least a point against the West Midland team at Stormy Corner. At the time Skem had recovered from going a goal down on the half-hour and looked well on course for at least a share of the points, but the visitor’s second goal changed the shape of the match.

The early portion of the game had seen Skelmersdale slightly on top. In the eighth minute youngster Jack Owen went close with a volley after a patient ten player passing build-up, then on 19 minutes a Dan Mitchley shot across the face of goal went agonisingly close to a finishing touch.

The Sutton goal in the 30th minute had something of the “Duncan Ferguson” about it. Initially a shot was cleared away for a corner, from which six foot four inch centre-forward Mo Diop Serigne leapt high above everyone in the penalty area to put an unstoppable header into the top corner.

The goal gave the visitors impetus and before the break Skem goalkeeper Martin Fearon was called into action a couple of times to make important saves, both from the previous six foot plus assailant.

Skelmersdale soon levelled after the restart and the goal was a good example of centre-forward Mitchley’s confidence at present. Bringing the ball under control with his chest on the edge of the eighteen yard box, he created an angle for a right-foot shot that went low past the despairing dive of Sutton goalkeeper James Wren into the net.

Skelmersdale were desperately unlucky on 61 minutes, both Mitchley and Phil Mooney seeing goalbound efforts scrambled off the line in the space of five seconds.

The winner was unfortunate, but owed plenty to the enterprise of scorer Kyle Bryant. Tom Ince played the ball back to Tom Hardwick, who took a bad touch as the ball bobbled; Bryant ran straight at him and stole the ball before sliding it under Fearon from about eight yards out.

Sutton fell back and made things difficult for Skelmersdale who still showed a little leg weariness as they chased the game. Ince put a shot inches off target and only a good late parry by Wren fended off another opportunity.

But for the error the game could have gone either way as the second Sutton goal forced a change in the balance of the match. Tommy Lawson rested a couple of players who were suffering from knocks and the return of Ince will pay dividends for Skem, as understandably after eleven months on the side-lines he looked pretty rusty early on, but grew into the game well.

SKELMERSDALE UNITED: Fearon, Strickland, Holden, Hardwick, McIntosh ©, Mooney, Kinsella, Woolcott, Mitchley, Owen, Ince Subs (not used) Rendell, Burton, Donaldson, Corrigan, Heron

SUTTON COLDFIELD TOWN: Wren, Gonzales, Jackson, Forde, Kettle, Rowley, Bryant, Melvin (Beresford, 89), Serigne (Lilly, 73), O’Callaghan, Turton (Bell, 60) Sub (not used) Harrison

Referee: Ben Speedie (Newcastle Upon Tyne)

Attendance: 209