BAMBER BRIDGE 2 SKELMERSDALE UNITED 0

MISSED CHANCES COST IN FA CUP

BAMBER BRIDGE 2 SKELMERSDALE UNITED 0

By Neil Leatherbarrow

Skelmersdale United bowed out of the FA Cup on Saturday and were left to count the cost of missed opportunities and a slight lapse of concentration at a crucial stage.
The opening quarter-hour saw two teams taking care not to give the other an early advantage, with Skelmersdale looking the more adventurous and their patient build-up was play beginning to make openings.
In the 18th minute Skelmersdale were really unlucky. Alan Burton took the ball in the middle of the park, played a one-two that took him past his marker, and then unleashed a powerful skimming shot that thumped against the foot of the post. The ball went into a wide position and from the cross back into the box, Dan Mitchley smashed a shot that somehow home goalkeeper Lee Dovey managed to tip over his crossbar.
Two minutes later Skelmersdale went close again, Burton putting a header wide. Then on 25 minutes, an excellent team build-up saw the ball drop to full-back Louis Corrigan, his volley was saved by Dovey the rebound falling to Tom Ince who just missed the target.
Skem’s control of the first period continued. In the 36th minute Corrigan had another effort blocked until finally in the 42nd minute 3 successive shots were blocked.
It was still goalless but things looked good for the second-half as Skelmersdale drank their interval tea. How wrong can you be?
Three minutes into the second-half Bamber Bridge had their first viable shot at goal, Joe Booth’s shot was blocked but ran back to him, this time the former AFC Fylde player coolly picked his spot and the hosts were in front and it was a completely different game.
The onus was now on Skelmersdale to score and Bamber Bridge had something to hold on to.
A referee’s decision, some might say lack of ‘bottle’ also did much to make it hard for Skem. About 35 yards from goal Skelmersdale’s Phil Mooney was always going to get to a loose ball before home number five Glenn Steel, however the big defender went through with his challenge long after the ball had gone, it was high and sent Mooney into the air, leaving him injured on the floor. Referee Dean Watson paused then pulled out his yellow card, many said it should have been his red one.
You can only speculate as to how much difference it would have made if Steel had gone off with 41 minutes left on the clock. Skelmersdale had not done well against ten men at Mickleover earlier in the month. But you could also say that it would have been fair to see them given that option.
At this point you must also give Bamber Bridge credit, because they defended superbly in the second-half and Skelmersdale struggled to break them down.
After a passing move Mitchley shot wide, then Corrigan’s free-kick went wide, before Tony Rendell put a header over the bar from a corner. Then Mitchley had a shot saved by Dovey and an excellent goal-line clearance by Danny Mahoney kept Skelmersdale out.
Bamber Bridge is an experienced side and it came to the fore when they got the second goal via a counterattack in the 79th minute. Former Everton player Jamie Milligan exchanged passes with former Premier League forward Brett Ormerod, leaving the former in space on a tight angle 15 yards from goal, his pass across goal going straight into the path of Booth, who slotted home his second killer goal.
Mitchley soon brought another save out of Dovey, but it was too late and all over for Skem.

BAMBER BRIDGE: Dovey, Hankin (Mahoney, 73), Green, Lawlor, Steel. Kay, Booth, McKenna ©, Ormerod (Vasey, 86), Linney, Milligan (Marlow, 82) Subs (not used) Alexander, Swindlehurst

SKELMERSDALE UNITED: Fearon, Strickland (Owen, 82), Corrigan, McIntosh ©, Rendell, Burton, Mooney, Woolcott, Mitchley, Kinsella (Donnelly, 29), Ince Subs (not used) Donaldson, Heron, Hardwick

Referee: Dean Watson