The quest for a first home win of the season will continue into 2019 for United after a 5-1 derby defeat against Prescot Cables. Headed efforts from Louis Coyne and James Cooper either side of a leveller from Dave Moore saw a 2-1 half-time score with Matthew Hamilton, Luke Griffiths and substitute Lloyd Dean striking in the second half for Cables.

Terry Smith, James O'Hara and Dave Moore returned to the starting eleven after work commitments, suspension and welcoming a new daughter over Christmas while Lewis Welsh debuted. An early blow for United saw Tom Molyneux injured in the warm up with Sean Yeldrem promoted from the bench.

United tested the Cables defence inside the opening minute with Will Dunne's free-kick cannoning off the wall before a shot from distance minutes later by Alex Griffiths was claimed comfortably by Ben Barnes. Cables response was a run and cross from Recce Fishwick as he picked out former United forward Chris Almond who saw an effort blocked by the defence as did Matthew Hamilton from the rebound.

Sean Yeldrem capped off a run with a powerful shot which drew a low save from Barnes ahead of a bizarre incident occurring on eight minutes as having left the field to change his boots, Alex Griffiths was booked for re-entering without permission of the referee. United should have taken the lead on ten minutes as a stunning run from Dave Moore saw an advance into the box and square ball for Dunne who tapped achingly past the near post. Cables had the ball in the net on 14 minutes as clever play from Reece McNally saw Jordan Southworth fire past Terry Smith but the effort was chalked off by the official. The resulting corner saw the opener for Cables as Louis Coyne flicked a header past Smith for 1-0.

The lead quickly came under threat with Dunne meeting a sweeping cross from Ben Giverin to head narrowly across goal before Moore's dash towards goal saw him denied by the reflexes of Barnes. Moore soon got the better of Barnes as United levelled in the 20th minute, Giverin's cross met first time by Moore who slotted in to open his account for the season at 1-1.

Cables went close to restoring the lead on 29 minutes as Coyne headed narrowly past the post from a corner but he had reason to celebrate on the half-hour as centre-back partner James Cooper headed past Smith for 2-1. United could have drawn level rapidly with Moore seeing a shot blocked from point-blank range by the Cables defence. At the other end, United had Smith to thank as he saved superbly from Jordan Wynne's shot across goal before half-time.

The first chance of the second half saw Almond curl an effort past the far post before Cables made it 3-1 on 58 minutes, Southworth's lofted cross met superbly by Hamilton who headed past the diving Smith.As the fog began to cloud the pitch, United came close to cutting the gap with a clipped effort from Yeldrem saved at the near post by Barnes and at the other end, Smith was instrumental in preventing another Cables goal denying Almond from close range after a Wynne cross.

The last meeting between the sides on New Year's Day saw a mass brawl which saw fines for both sides and after a dangerous tackle on McNally from Dunne, tempers began to flare but this time the ferocity was quelled quickly with both players booked by the official.United went 4-1 behind on 73 minutes as a clever cross saw Luke Griffiths left wide open to head past Smith. Dunne came close to testing Barnes as he hit a long range free-kick over the bar before substitute Paul Cliff forced a low stop from Barnes from a tight angle.

The scoring came to a close on 86 minutes as substitute Lloyd Dean slotted in from Fishwick's cross for 5-1. The final whistle sounding minutes left United to reflect on two heavy losses over Christmas ahead of a visit to new leaders Runcorn Linnets on Saturday.

Skelmersdale United- Smith (c) Welsh, O'Hara, Banks, M.Molyneux (Keegan 46), Yeldrem (Cliff 70), Grimshaw (McLoughlin 70), Moore, Dunne, Griffiths. Subs not used- Boden, T.Molyneux.

Prescot Cables- Barnes, Fishwick, McNally (Edgar 78), Cooper (c), Coyne, Lenehan, Southworth (Monaghan 68), Griffiths, Hamilton, Wynne, Almond (Dean 68). Subs not used- Faux, Turner.

Referee-I.Gittens
Att-354.