After a promising performance away to Mossley, United showed the polar opposite in a 9-0 horror show at Colwyn Bay. Braces from Tom McCready, Danny Andrews and ex-United loanee James Barrigan were joined by strikes from Ethan Devine, Ashley Woods and Astley Mulholland in a comfortable win for the Seagulls.

Paul McNally welcomed Dave Moore back from injury in place of the suspended John Keatley, Thomas Grimshaw in place of the unavailable Jordan Tyrer and handed a spot on the bench to newly signed Yahya Saeed.

The hosts started the brighter and could have opened the scoring inside four minutes as James Barrigan collected a through ball to advance on goal but great instinct from Liam Boden saw him deny the Bay forward. Two minutes later, Bay took the lead with some luck as Tom McCready's curling free-kick crept under the diving Boden and into the net for 1-0.

United responded with Sean Yeldrem gaining possession and racing down the wing before crossing to Tom Grimshaw who headed past the far post. Bay doubled their lead on 14 minutes as clever play from McCready and Barrigan saw the latter clip the ball past Boden who got a hand to the shot but couldn't prevent 2-0. Skem had a few chances to cut the gap with Grimshaw hitting past the post before Marvin Molyneux headed Matt Coughlan's free-kick narrowly over the bar.

Bay made it 3-0 inside 23 minutes as Ashley Woods picked out Danny Andrews on the left who slotted past Boden. The lead could have been greater on the half hour as with Boden advancing to block on the edge of the area, Woods lofted the ball over him and with the empty goal waiting, the ball drifted past the far post. Craig Pritchard burst into the box minutes later and drew a low parry from Boden who also saved a cannoned rebound off Paul Cliff.

The hopes of a comeback for United looked over on 35 minutes as a run from Lassana Mendes saw him felled by Boden with McCready slotting the resulting penalty into the bottom corner for 4-0. United could barely recover from the penalty before they went 5-0 behind, Woods' cross blocked by Boden but straight into the path of Barrigan who fired into an empty net.

United ended the half with a shot from Yeldrem being claimed by Coughlin while Colwyn midfielder Pritchard fired over at the other end. The second half began with a substitute apiece before Yeldrem raced down the wing and into the area before being denied a chance to square and after clever skill, Alex Griffiths did the same in advancing and being denied a crossing chance. The lack of a cutting edge for United cost them further on 51 minutes as Andrews' long range shot cannoned off the defence into Pritchard's path, he squared for Woods who fired in for 6-0.

Substitute Danny McLoughlin tested Coughlin with a curling free-kick on 69 minutes before it became 7-0 to the hosts five minutes later as clever play saw a one-two between Ethan Devine and Pritchard with the former slotting past Boden.

Dave Moore headed wide from a corner and Yeldrem drew a diving stop from Coughlin before a miserable afternoon for United was completed by two late goals for 9-0, Barrigan set up Andrews for his second on 88 minutes before Mendes picked out substitute Astley Mulholland in added time to end the rout.

Colwyn Bay- Coughlin, Devine, Ellison (Carrington 52), Thornton, Bell, Mendes, Pritchard, McCready (c) (Robinson 46), Woods (Mulholland 62), Barrigan. Subs not used- Rutter, Arkwright.

Skelmersdale United- Boden, Keegan, Cliff, M.Molyneux, Samson, T.Molyneux (c) (Saeed 46), Coughlan (Bromilow 55), Grimshaw (McLoughlin 69), Moore, Yeldrem, Griffiths. Subs not used- Povoa, Kirkman.

Referee- D.Hitchell
Att-196