MONDAY 27th AUGUST 2007.
(WRITES FRANK HUGHES)
United worked hard for a share of the spoils, but will rue the fact that Craig Noone failed to score from the penalty spot.
Manager, Tommy Lawson was delighted with the result.
“I had to alter the shape of the team with Aaron Turner being ruled out through
injury, and one or two players had to play in unorthodox positions as a result,
so it was never going to be an easy game for us.
“The lads stood up to the task well and put in a gritty performance, and I
can’t ask for more than that.”
Sean O’Neil caught United on the break in the 12th minute, but the best he
could do was fire into McMahon’s hands.
David Eaton’s shot in the 22nd minute was somewhat weak and fizzled wide. The
initial play was enterprising enough though as Foster collected the ball just
outside his own area before splaying a great pass outfield to Tony Evans. Evans
turned before feeding the ball square to Eaton, but sadly he didn’t quite catch
the ball right and the chance faded.
David Eaton was brought down inside the area in the 27th minute, but the best Noone could do was clip the wrong side of the upright.
A defensive slip up by Steve Akrigg allowed Sean O’Neil
through to cross to the near post and Ryan Salmon hit the upright as a result. Noone countered seconds later and having spotted the keeper
off his line he neatly lobbed the ball over his head, but the ball inched
agonisingly high of the angle.
Alex Porter’’s cross evaded United’s defence in the 70th minute, but Glen Steel headed
over when clear in on goal.
Steel had another opportunity soon after but under pressure from Shaun Foster
he was forced into shooting wide.
The strangest decision likely to be seen this season came in the 74th minute
when the referee awarded a free kick against Shaun Foster after Adam Tong raced
into the United half before stumbling and falling over
outside the box as he ran out of steam. In what can only be described as an
exercise to substantiate his decision the referee then proceeded to book
Foster, much to the amusement of the
Tony Evans had a shot turned away by the keeper in the 76th minute, and soon
after Noone once again spotted the keeper off his
line and attempted another lob from 30-yards out, but this time it was way off
target.
At the other end Guy Heywood broke through, and once again Shaun Foster pulled
off a great clearance, but in a game that switched from end to end; the final
delivery wasn’t quite there for either team and a bank holiday blank was the
final result.
M.O.M. Michael Duffy.
Shaun Foster pushed Duffy all the way for the honour…in what proved to be a
dominant display all round from a defensive point of view for Skem. However, Duffy edged it with a faultless and
determined performance throughout the game.
McMahon, Duffy, Hardwick, Akrigg, White,