SKELMERSDALE UNITED 1 SUTTON COLDFIELD TOWN 3

By Neil Leatherbarrow

The visit of the fellow strugglers from the West Midlands represented an opportunity for Skelmersdale United to pick up some points and they started well scoring after just four minutes. However, Skem quickly conceded an equaliser and were second best after the interval, as they failed to ignite their passing game and posed little threat up front in a lacklustre performance.

Skelmersdale started well and soon Jack Watts had a shot saved by Sutton Coldfield goalkeeper James Wren. A couple of minutes more and it was 1-0 to Skem, Watts spread the ball out onto the left-wing from where Remy Howarth hoisted the ball high to the far post, Glennon Cameron was on the run, he jumped high above the visitors defence dropping a looping header inside the far post.
Skelmersdale’s joy lasted around a minute. A long clearance by Wren was helped on to Josh Venney down the inside-left channel and he shot early, sending the ball inside Skem’s right-hand post.

The quality of the game deteriorated for a while as both sides showed exactly why they are struggling. Gradually though Sutton Coldfield started to get more of the positive possession. Aaron Birch latched onto a low cross but fired past Skem’s near-post with the best move before half-time.

Skelmersdale put in another poor second-half show and one noticeable problem was the room Sutton’s number seven Max Wright was getting down the wing. His cross on 48 minutes looked sure to be tapped in by Ryan Robbins, but a miraculous goal-line clearance by Michael Vaughan-Muscat followed by an equally miraculous parry by Joe Hilton saved Skelmersdale.

In the 64th minute only a superb tackle by Callum Grogan prevented another cross from Wright creating a goal, but a goal was coming and it did on 69 minutes. Venney and Birch exchanged running passes down the left that opened Skem up sufficiently to allow substitute David Howarth to side-foot home from eight yards.

Skelmersdale’s response was at best tepid. Manager Alan Rogers replaced Nathan Randell with Max Allen but it made little difference, a lot of movement but no penetration, leaving goalkeeper Wren without having a shot to save. The visitors ended the agony on 88 minutes. A long throw-in was headed down and Birch who had been the best man on the pitch got his personal reward with a goal from 10 yards out.

The post match interview was carried out by player-coach Steve Gillespie who described the performance as “deeply disappointing” adding “We expected a reaction from Saturday and we didn’t get it. We started well then naively conceded within a minute and the second-half wasn’t acceptable, they know it themselves. “

In defence of the Skelmersdale youngsters they faced a Sutton Coldfield side that simply had to win if they were to stand any chance of being relegated and although not a great team they ground out a victory. Skelmersdale will probably do better against mid-table teams with nothing to play for in this last quarter of the season. It was a disappointing performance though that apart from the opening minutes lacked a lot in endeavour and verve and looked tired. They must and are expected to do better.

SKELMERSDALE UNITED: Hilton, Cameron, Howarth R., Vaughan-Muscat, Jefferies, Grogan, Watts, Irwin, Randell (Allen, 63), Shacklock, Mooney (c) Subs (not used) Bradshaw, Dobie, Mason, Stephens

SUTTON COLDFIELD TOWN: Wren, Curley, Fox, Birch, Townsend (c), Kelly, Wright (Beresford, 76), Webb, Robbins (Howarth D., 55), Venney, MacDonald (Gibson, 63) Sub (not used) Gleet

Referee: Alex Kirkley

Attendance: 160