Match report - Skelmersdale United

Report by Phil Castiaux

In association with
ALAN McLEAN FCMA CGMA
Chartered Management Accountant

Saturday 21st November, 2015
Evo-Stik Premier League

Attendance: 248

Skelmersdale United 2-1 Blyth Spartans

The Spartans travelled to Merseyside to take on a Skelmersdale side which had recently hit good form in the League.

Blyth opened brightly with Dan Maguire testing home keeper Martin Fearon with a low drive in the opening minute. The hosts countered immediately when Sam Staunton Walker drove over the bar from 20 yards.

A little against the run of the early play Blyth took the lead when Matty Wade found the overlapping Andrew Cartwright on the right. The fullback crossed first time low and hard into the box where Michael Richardson was on hand to steer the ball past Fearon from six yards and in to the far corner of the net. Within minutes Cartwright was again causing consternation for Skelmersdale, storming in to the penalty area but he was dispossessed by a timely tackle by Robert McIntosh.

The game then began to swing in Sklemersdale's favour, in particular with a string of dangerous crosses from the left wing. A Luke Wall cross went over Fabian Otte in the Blyth goal but Chris Almond could only head wide. An Ince cross was headed clear by Blyth falling to Gerard Kinsella who volleyed narrowly wide of the target. Kinsella came close again within minutes, this time with Otte diving sharply to palm away his long-range effort.

However the pressure told when on 25 minutes a corner from the left was headed home with some ease by centre back Tony Rendell to level the scores.

Danger man Kinsella again shot from distance and Otte watched, relieved, as it went out for a goal kick. However the Skelmersdale midfielder hit the target after 35 minutes with a stunning 18 yard finish which Otte had no chance of saving.

Blyth responded within a minute with Maguire forcing Fearon to save low to his left and when Richardson produced a surging run in to the six yard box Fearon was there again to smother smartly. In the final minutes of the half Robert Dale had a shot blocked and Alex Nicholson forced Fearon to come up with his best save of the game to date.

The Spartans were straight on to the front foot after the break when Maguire found himself with only Fearon to beat but the keeper brilliantly palmed away his drive. The hosts had a great chance to then extend their lead when an Ince cross just eluded Staunton Turner at the back post. This was effectively the last which was seen from Skelmersdale in the game as an attacking force. Blyth grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck pouring forward at every opportunity.

Dale was replaced by Aaron Wearmouth after 54 minutes due to a hip injury.

Nicholson shot over from 30 yards before Wearmouth found Cartwright in the penalty box put he couldn't make a good contact and Fearon saved. Wearmouth himself, Maguire, Damen Mullen and Shaun Reid all had shots blocked by the dogged Skelmersdale defenders. With six minutes remaining Cartwright came close and a Reid header was safely clutched by Fearon. Then a clever ball from Richardson was stroked marginally too far ahead of Maguire on the edge of the six yard box.

Despite all their pressure Blyth were ultimately unable to make their possession count.

TEAMS:
Skelmersdale United: 1. Martin Fearon. 2. Phil Mooney, 3. Shaun Holden, 4. Robert McIntosh (capt.), 5. Tony Rendell, 6. Sam Staunton Turner (Paul Woolcott 57), 7. Gerard Kinsella, 8. Kenny Strickland, 9. Chris Almond (Isaac Kusaloka 85), 10. Luke Wall (Osebi Adadaki 45), 11. Tom Ince
Subs: 14. Louis Corrigan, 15. Valter Fernandez

Blyth Spartans: 1. Favian Otte, 2. Andrew Cartwright, 3. Jordan Watson, 4. Dillon Morse, 5. Ryan Hutchinson, 6. Stephen Turnbull, 7. Alex Nicholson (Sean Reid 74), 8. Michael Richardson, 9. Daniel Maguire, 10. Matthew Wade (Damen mullen 70), 11. Robert Dale (Aaron Wearmouth 54)
Subs: 15. Danny Parker, 17. Paul Robinson

Referee: Martin Woods, Assistants: Michael Sutcliffe, Matthew Scholes