Ahead of a fortnight on the road, United suffered a home defeat late on for the second time this week as Irlam secured a narrow 1-0 win at JMO Sports Park.

Paul McNally named the same starting lineup from the midweek game against Rylands with one exception as Richard Brodie replaced the unavailable Alex Davies while Gabriel Ellis was named on the bench in place of Ged Traynor after renewal of his work-experience loan from Accrington Stanley.

The visitors started brightest with a chance for Jordan Southworth as he swept an effort past the target early on and at the other end, Emini Adegbenro sent a shot over the bar. Adegbenro tried his luck again after collecting Alex Griffiths' cross but could only find the side netting.

Two chances for the visitors on the half hour mark saw Southworth firing over the bar before Jordan Icely sent a shot just past the post. At the other end, a looping Griffiths cross needed saw a vital stop from Lee White to prevent Adegbenro from connecting at the far post.

Irlam continued to threaten with Southworth cutting in side from the wing and drawing a low save from Barnes with an angled effort and minutes later a great chance fell to Callum Nicholas but with the goal in sight he fired high and wide.

The second half saw both sides have their best chances of the afternoon before the hour mark, a long ball forward from Barnes bounced kindly for Jason Carey who looked to lift the ball over White but saw his chipped effort also beat the target itself.

Irlam's chance came on 51 minutes as Connor Martin's effort cannoned back off the post but had it crossed the line would have been chalked off for offside. Clever play from John Main saw him tee up Icely who fired over a few minutes later.

An angled cross-shot from Carey forced White to tip the ball away from goal before Icely's shot from an angle saw Barnes parry before recovering under pressure. United tried their luck again from the opposite side with Tom Croughan's cross finding Carey at the far post but with a tight angle he could only hit over the target.

United had a great chance to open the scoring on 79 minutes with an acrobatic effort from Richard Brodie forcing White to tip the shot away from goal.

Alike Tuesday night against Rylands, the final ten minutes saw United's hopes of a draw fall through as Irlam opened the scoring on 85 minutes. Callum Nicholas picking out Sam Bolton on the wing combined with substitute and former United forward Mwiya Malumo to find Nicholas in space to head past Barnes for 1-0.

The final whistle minutes later signalled the end of a mixed week for United that should have seen two draws at the least but instead left them with two defeats after late strikes.

Skelmersdale United - Barnes, Glennon Preston, J.Grimshaw, Stanton, Tyrer, Croughan (Ellis 74), Carey, Brodie, Griffiths (Jarrett 80), Adegbenro (Osi-Efa 74).Subs not used - Staunton, Dunne.

Irlam- White, Lever, Bolton, Nolan, Ledson, Cassell, Southworth, Nicholas, Martin (Malumo 81), Main (Perry 81), Icely (Rathbone 81). Subs not used - Allan-Meredith.

Referee: A.James
Attendance: 221