After a trilogy of away wins, Skelmersdale United's joy on the road came to an end with a 1-0 defeat to Vauxhall Motors at the VanEupen Arena. The sides met for the third time in three weeks with a draw and United win in the FA Cup previously.

Paul McNally welcomed Elliot Morris, Callum Preston and Danny Mitchley to the starting lineup with Alex Davies, Tom Croughan and Emini Adegbenro dropping to the bench.

Early chances for United saw a Mikey Howard cut inside and shoot across goal before a headed efffort over the bar from Baba Conteh after he connected to Joe Herbert's cross. The ball arrived with Herbert after a Callum Preston shot was parried by Mikey Dixon.

Ben Holmes sent a shot past the post for the hosts after a pacy run and Matty Hamilton forced a low save from Dixon who later denied Elliot Morris a shot at goal as he collected across from Alex Grifiths.

The second half saw Aaron Smith force a strong stop from Barnes before a counter from Holmes saw a vital fingertip stop from Ben Barnes as the shot crept past the far post. Howard sent a shot past the post at the other end before a slight error in the Motors defence looked to be a gift for substitute Emini Adegbenro bu Dixon did well to recover and deny him a shot.

The hosts opened the scoring on 68 minutes as substitute Kieran Garner-Knapper picked out fellow sub Jack Kelly with a cross that the forward tucked past Barnes for 1-0.

United's response saw substitute Tom Croughan cut inside from the wing before hitting a shot from distance past the post with Adegbenro also sending the ball across goal after a run on the other wing.

A clever counter from Motors saw Knapper race towards goal before forcing a save from Barnes and the hosts held on to secure the win and end United's recent good form with a hope to bounce-back on Monday with the hosting of Litherland Remyca.

Vauxhall Motors- Dixon, Smyth, Heath, Gardner, Mitchell, Cooper, Holmes (Knapper 60, Riley, Thelwell (Kelly 64), Smith (Drummond 72), Burkey. Subs not used- Scarisbrick, Levey

Skelmersdale United - Barnes, Griffiths, Preston, Herbert (Brodie 22), Conteh, Strickland, Howard (Croughan 57), Djalo, Mitchley, Hamilton (Adegbenro 57), Morris. Subs not used- Glennon, Davies.

Referee-Elliot Holman
Att-111.

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