SATURDAY 15^TH SEPTEMBER 2007.

FA CUP 1^ST QUALIFYING ROUND.

SKELMERSDALE UNITED 2 MARINE 0

(Writes Frank Hughes)

United won through to the next round of the FA Cup with a comfortable win against Marine who ply their trade a division higher in the non-league pyramid.

This was United’s fifth clean sheet in 8 games which is impressive alone, but that statistic looks even better when your winning the game as well…it’s no good being draw specialists in cup games because the job is never quite done.

Thankfully a resolute Skem added another £2250 to the grand they collected when they beat Maine Road in the last round, which is a great boost to club coffers now that the club is without a main sponsor for the first time in 10-years.

The more worrying fact is that after their best ever start in the Northern Premier League and playing their best football in over three decades; the supporters are alarmingly staying away. A miserable crowd of 259 for a local derby reflects poorly on a town renowned for its great knowledge of the wonderful art of football.

United continue to entertain regardless and looked the brighter team from the outset against their local rivals. Craig Noone was once again torturing the defence from early on as he shot across the face of goal. All it needed was a final touch at the far post as Marine’s defence appeared out of sorts.

Marine never really got out of the starting blocks and were stunned into silence when Aaron Turner’s speculative shot from 20-yards out thundered into the top right hand corner of the net – indeed it was a goal worth the entrance fee alone.

Craig Noone’s free kick from 20-yards was literally inches wide in the 28^th minute.

Marine had to wait until the 35^th minute to produce an effort of any real value. Peter Cumiskey had a half chance as he fired through a crowded area but Michael White blocked the shot and cleared the ball up field.

In the 37^th minute United scored again.  Craig Noone’s cross bounced over Marine’s first line of defence and Tony Evans tucked the ball away at the far post with a glancing header.

David Eaton breached Marine’s defence in the 43^rd minute, but Andy Banks raced off his line, blocked Eaton’s angle before making a brave tackle to snatch the ball from Eaton’s feet as he was priming himself up for a shot.

The second half was virtually one way traffic with United forcing Marine on the back foot with wave after wave of attacks. 

Shaun Foster’s cross to the far post was headed over the crossbar by Tony Evans in the opening seconds of the second half.

A mazy run by Craig Noone minutes later, saw him dribble the ball through several players, but his final touch let him down as he showed too much of the ball to the keeper. It was breathtaking stuff which couldn’t fail to excite the most partisan of crowds. And Noone had an even greater opportunity 60 seconds later as he raced clear of the Marine defence courtesy of Tony Evans’ through ball, but after a slight touch to control the ball he fired directly into the keepers hands.

Craig Noone turned supplier with a free kick to the far post and Steve Akrigg’s header was palmed away by the keeper at the near post in the 54^th minute.

Substitute George Donnelly could’ve bagged himself a hat trick in the quarter of an hour or so that he was on the pitch. The first effort came in the 79^th minute following a good move which started with Foster in defence as he managed to break down a Marine attack before releasing Craig Noone on the left. Noone fed the ball inside to David Eaton who in turn threaded the ball through to Donnelly, and with only the keeper to beat the best Donnelly could do was hit the sidenetting.

Donnelly headed wide Noone’s cross in the 86^th minute, but the best opportunity came in the closing stages as Donnelly hit the crossbar with a rasping volley via Eaton’s deft cross.

Starman: Aaron Turner.

It was a great team performance once again from United, but the field was led from Aaron Turner who can only be described as a midfield general.

Going as far back as last season when he made his debut in the Liverpool Senior Cup against Ashton Town when he scored a hat trick, we were more than aware how deadly he can be in front of goal, but if only he could have more belief in himself in front of goal then what an addition to his already impressive cv he could add.

Rating: 4/5.

Team Skem: McMahon, Duffy, Foster, Akrigg, White, Holland , Birchall, Turner, Evan (16. Donnelly 75.) Eaton (12. Cass 89. Noone (14. McConville 83) Subs Not Used: 15. Hardwick. 17. Lowe.

Att: 259.