SATURDAY 1^st SEPTEMBER 2007.

FA CUP PRELIMINARY ROUND.

MAINE ROAD 0 SKELMERSDALE UNITED 3

(Writes Frank Hughes)

United progressed to the 1^st Qualifying Round of the FA Cup and will now face a mouth watering home tie against Unibond Premier League rivals Marine on Saturday September 15^th 2007.

Luke Mack’s cross-cum shot was turned over by Ryan McMahon as early as the 7^th minute. The keeper had it covered all the time but the ball dipped sharply; making the save look far more dramatic than it should’ve been.

Georgie Donnelly was looking lively – in front of goal and also as supplier, but it was Sean McConville that came closest to opening up proceedings when his glancing header from Craig Noone’s free kick shaved the wrong side of the upright.

Donnelly set Evans up in the 24^th minute with an inside pass, but the keeper did well to block his shot. And Phil Holland shot across the face of goal a few minutes later once again via a Donnelly assist.

The referee didn’t help matters when he turned down a stonewall penalty in the 34^th minute after a blatant push on Tony Evans.

Craig Noone’s through ball to Donnelly looked like the key to open up the box in the 43^rd minute, but unfortunately his shot was blocked en route, and Craig Noone’s follow-up was turned around the post.

Georgie Donnelly’s volley from close range zipped over the crossbar five minutes into the second half, as did Michael Duffy’s effort a couple of minutes later.

Tony Evans hit the crossbar in the 56^th minute. Tom Hardwick provided the ammunition, and had it not been for the faintest of touches by the keeper, the ball would’ve sailed into the roof of the net.

Hardwick, McConville and Noone all had decent opportunities to break the deadlock, but it was substitute John Cass who came closest two minutes after joining the field of play but his effort was cleared off the line

Try as they did United couldn’t find the back of the net until as late as the 76^th minute and even then it came via a penalty.

Craig Noone was brought down following a spirited run into the area and Steve Akrigg converted from the spot – albeit the keeper, Greg Hall dived the right way and even managed to get a hand to the ball.

If anything the goal seemed to jolt Maine Road into action, and without anything major to do since the 7^th minute Ryan McMahon stayed alert enough to block Road’s 78^th minute effort.

The game was soon over though as Noone assisted again in the 85^th minute, once again stepping aside another robust challenge before crossing the ball to John Cass who beat both centre halves to slot the ball home from close range.

The tie was rounded off just before the final whistle as Georgie Donnelly latched onto John Cass’ unselfish through ball before thrashing the ball into the back of the net.

M.O.M. Michael Duffy.

Michael worked hard throughout the game; covering almost every blade of grass on the pitch, but was pushed all the way by a workmanlike performance by Georgie Donnelly who’s beginning to make his mark at the club.

McMahon, Duffy, Hardwick, Akrigg, White, Holland, McConville, Foster, Donnelly, Evans (12. Cass 69) Noone. Subs Not Used: 14. Eaton. 15. Birchall. 16. McNally. 17. Lowe.Holland, McConville, Foster, Donnelly, Evans