Ahead of a tough run-in, United boosted their survival hopes with a 1-1 draw at home to Market Drayton Town. Town opened the scoring through Glyn Coney just before half-time with Henoc Mukendi levelling nine minutes after the interval.

Paul McNally promoted Sean Yeldrem and Matthew Corness to the starting lineup with Anthony Cato and Jordan Tyrer unavailable while John Keatley returned in attack after missing the previous game at Kidsgrove Athletic.

The visitors had the first chance of the afternoon in the seventh minute, Jordan Davies collecting a through ball before curling a shot over the bar, United replied a minute later as Matthew Corness' blocked attempt fell to Matthew Scoullar who fired over the bar from outside the area. Tommy Lent came close to looping the ball over Ash Rawlins in the MDT goal with a long range effort before a superb double save from Ryan Kirkman denied the visitors an advantage in the 18th minute. Glyn Coney's header from a corner saw Kirman save low before he blocked a point-blank effort from James Jennings.

A superb wing run from Alex Griffiths saw him cut inside and test Rawlins from distance before Davies hit over the bar at the other end after latching onto Coney's through ball. Another pacy run from Griffiths just after the half hour saw him unleash from range to force a diving save from Rawlins.

The visitors came close to opening the scoring a few minutes later as Davies' angled effort cannoned back off the far post with Kirkman beaten. They had the ball in the net on 38 minutes as Dan Beddows rifled a shot from distance which sailed over Kirkman and cannoned off the bar before coming back into play, Video replay shows the ball did cross the line but in live play, the referee waved play on.

MDT continued to threaten with Ryan McLean forcing a low parry from Kirkman from the just outside the area before Coney tried his luck from a similar distance with the shot creeping past the post. Last week's visit to Kidsgrove saw United go behind just before the interval and this week saw the same fate as a Davies cross was flciked on at the far post for Coney to head past Kirkman for 1-0 in added time.

The second half began with Henoc Mukendi's cross finding the arms of Rawlins before a quick free-kick minutes later saw Ryan McLean's low cross flicked on at the near post by Jennings with Kirkman claiming. United's threat began to rise with substitute Tom Grimshaw's near post flick saved by Rawlins and a powerful effort from Griffiths blocked by the MDT defence.

The pressure soon paid off as United drew level on 54 minutes, Henoc Mukendi slotting in for 1-1 as he reacted quickest after John Keatley's shot cannoned off the post. United came close to going ahead as clever play from Wood saw him draw a superb diving save from Rawlins on the hour.

Substitute Danny McLoughlin forced a save from Rawlins while at the other end, Jennings fired over from just inside the area before a superb run saw him cut inside and force a double stop from Kirkman from close range. The final chance of the afternoon went to the visitors, Davies breaking through the United defence before crossing for Jennings at the far post who with the goal gaping hit past the near post. The final whistle sounded minutes later with United happy to claim a point on a day where both sides could have taken all three but a point which reduced the gap to safety.

Skelmersdale United - Kirkman, Samson (Grimshaw 17), Scoullar, Molyneux (c), Lent, Griffiths, Yeldrem (McLoughlin 62), Wood, Keatley, Corness, Mukendi. Subs not used- Lewis, Povoa, Smith.

Market Drayton Town- Rawlins, Muprhy, Buxton, McFarlane, Hartlebury, Stanton (Bradburn 86), McLean (Knowles 64), Beddows (c), Jennings, Coney (Howell 79), J.Davies. Subs not used- Gregory, M.Davies.

Referee-M.Ryder
Att-110