The experienced players in the Skelmersdale United team lifted the team through this Preliminary Round FA Cup tie in West Yorkshire. However, the North Counties East League hosts had a right to consider themselves unlucky at the end. They had more of the possession and more of the goal attempts, Pontefract also hit the woodwork three times and despite having a player sent off in the 77th minute they still looked the stronger side as the game entered added time with the scores tied at 1-1.

Then a bit of persistence from Richard Brodie and a clever toe-end from Danny Ventre saw Skem snatch a victory that had looked very unlikely for long periods at the quaintly named Beechnut Lane ground. Skelmersdale made the worst possible start, they were a goal down inside eighty seconds. Jack Greenough hoisted a long throw into the Skem area from the right, the defence was not prepared and the ball was knocked down to Eli Hay, the ponytailed striker swung his boot and the ball flew into the far corner of the net from about 15 yards.

A buoyant Pontefract pressed and in the ninth minute almost got lucky. Former Frickley man Luke Jeffs lifted a free-kick into the goalmouth; everybody missed the ball, which then struck the right-hand upright just below the crossbar. In the twelfth minute Pontefract came close again, Chris Jackson turning in the box but seeing his shot clear the crossbar. By the time Skelmersdale started to get their act together in the 17th minute they could easily have been two goals down. At that moment Andy Owens beat a home defender and his shot from 18 yards was pushed away by home goalkeeper Ryan Musslewhite.

In the 20th minute some hesitant Skem defending was nearly their undoing, but Vaughan Redford put his effort beyond the far post after he was one on one with goalkeeper Jack Sims. It was developing into a game of contrasting styles, Pontefract were pumping a lot of long balls into the Skelmersdale penalty area where Sims was busy competently fielding a plethora of crosses, Skem though were having trouble getting going as Collieries closed them down quickly.

In the 34th minute and 43rd minute Skelmersdale survived scares again, Kane Reece hitting the post again with a long lob into the goal area and Hay having a goal disallowed for offside. As the teams emerged for the 2nd half, Skelmersdale were going to have to improve a great deal if they were going to avoid FA Cup embarrassment and Alan Rogers brought on substitute Kevin Cringle in midfield.

An initial Pontefract attack was snubbed out on 47 minutes and Sims took a huge goal-kick, the ball was helped on and bounced up, Jonathan Crane ran onto it and lifted a sublime 35 yards chip over keeper Musslewhite into the home net for a spectacular equaliser.
Skelmersdale pressed for a bit but apart from a shot that Musslewhite fisted away chances were few before off another Sims goal-kick Brodie lobbed another effort at goal, but it went just wide with Musslewhite well beaten.

In the 63rd minute, Owens, Ventre and Bevan Burey saw a succession of shots blocked then Burey brought a save from the home keeper. However, down the other end Sims tipped another around the post. The host’s enthusiasm caused then a problem in the 77th minute, Jackson sent in a two footed challenge on Michael Vaughan-Muscat and was shown a red card. With ten men instead of crumbling Pontefract looked more dangerous, Hay put a shot wide when arguably he should have scored, then Blackpool loanee Sims made an excellent double save as the Skem support held their breath.

Seconds into added time Skem made the killer blow. Brodie chased a fairly innocuous ball to the left-wing corner flag and dribbled past full-back Greenough, now heading for goal, he appeared to shoot low for the far post, Danny Ventre stuck out a foot and the ball diverted it into the goal for Skelmersdale’s winner. It hadn’t been a good performance at all, but Skelmersdale did show tenacity, in the FA Cup the priority is to score one more goal than your opponent. That is exactly what they did.

In Monday lunchtimes draw Skelmersdale came out with a home draw against unbeaten Handsworth Parramore, the Worksop based club are promotion chasers in Pontefract’s division. If Skem win they will be able to add £3,000 to the £1,925 they won in prize money on Saturday.

PONTEFRACT COLLIERIES: Musslewhite, Greenough, Jeffs (Whitehouse, 80), Reece, Williams ©, Allott, Emmett, Cromack, Hay, Jackson, Redford V. Subs (not used) Dacre, Saynor

SKELMERSDALE UNITED: Sims, Jefferies, Roberts, Jones (Holmes, 82), Vaughan-Muscat, Ventre ©, Burey (Randell, 66), Crane, Owens, Brodie, Smith (Cringle, 45) Subs (not used) Bradshaw, Gillespie

Referee: Andrew Kitchen

Attendance: 99