Super Skem Topple Town

A first league win of the season for United as they sealed a 4-2 win over Runcorn Town at the Viridor Community Stadium.

Paul McNally welcomed Alex Davies, Tom Croughan and Matty Hamilton into the starting eleven in place of the injured Joe Herbert and strike duo Danny Mitchley and Emini Adegbenro who began on the bench.

A rapid start from United saw Mikey Howard sweeping a shot over the bar before being denied the opening goal on seven minutes by a superb last-gasp goal line clearance from Town captain Marcus James.

Town replied with Kieran Holsgrove hitting over the bar from an angle before Kenny Strickland swept a long-range free-kick over the target. Another great chance for Howard saw his header from a Callum Preston corner cleared just before the line. At the other end, Ben Barnes was called into action as he saved low from a Dale Jennings shot with Jennings sending a free-kick over the bar minutes later.

The deadlock was finally broken on 37 minutes as Matty Hamilton picked out the run of Elliot Morris who collected the pass and slotted low past Adam Reid for 1-0 to United. Runcorn came close to an instant leveller as Ryan Cox saw his shot cannon off the post and it proved a costly miss as United doubled the lead on 42 minutes. Morris collecting the ball on the edge of the area before sashaying through the defence and slotting past Reid for 2-0.

The final chance of the half went to Town as Holsgrove curled a free-kick narrowly over the bar as the sides went into the interval with United leading comfortably at 2-0. The second half opened with Jennings hitting across goal before Barnes saved strongly from a Ben Greenop effort.

United looked to build on their lead as McNally sent on Emini Agenbenro which led to an instant impact as a pacy run from Alex Griffiths saw the ball finding Adegbenro in space who fired in for 3-0. United almost had double joy from the bench as a few minutes after coming on for his debut Freddie Potter hit narrowly over the bar.

Reid saved strongly from a Tom Croughan effort before he denied Hamilton who combined nicely with Potter. Hamilton claimed his second assist of the afternoon as he swept a shot towards goal that was tapped past Reid by Croughan for 4-0 on 66 minutes.

United continued to threaten with Reid saving efforts from both Croughan and Hamilton before collecting a swirling free-kick from Strickland. The lead came close to an extension as substitute Danny Mitchley slotted past Reid only to see his joy quashed due to the offside flag.

As the game entered the final five minutes, Adegbenro pinged a shot against the post with a rebound from a free-kick before Ben Barnes breathed a sigh of relief after claiming the ball after his attempted clearance cannoned off Greenop.

Town finally got off the mark on 85 minutes though as Kevin Exell curled an effort into the top corner for 4-1 before they reduced the deficit to 4-2 late on as substitute Craig Cairns slotted past Barnes. The final whistle signalled joy for United as they opened their NWCP points account for the season.

Runcorn Town - Reid, Turner, Shaw, James, Richards, McManus (Holmes 63), Exell, Cox (Antoine) , Greenop, Jennings (Cairns 51), Holsgrove. Subs not used- Ruffer, Simms.

Skelmersdale United - Barnes (C),Griffiths, Preston, Davies, Grogan, Strickland, Morris (Adegbenro 54), Djalo, Croughan (Mitchley 71), Howard (Potter 57), Hamilton. Subs not used- Glennon, Brodie.

Referee- Jamie Kilgannon
Att-114

Reaction - https://youtu.be/BFKNIzWK2qw
Highlights - https://youtu.be/lVjK_mvyPho