SATURDAY 29TH SEPTEMBER 2007.
FA CUP 2ND QUALIFYING ROUND.
SKELMERSDALE UNITED 0
(WRITES FRANK HUGHES)
A 7th minute goal by Tony Gray settled this FA Cup Lancashire derby, but it was
Skelmersdale who ply their trade two division’s lower
that supplied the entertainment.
The goal itself was worthy of the entrance fee alone it has to be said. The move started from a free kick near the
half way line which was taken by Sean Newton and floated to the edge of the
box. Michael Powell climbed above Sean
Foster to head the ball to Gray whose overhead kick sailed into the bottom left
hand corner of the net.
Two
minutes later Tony Gray was through again courtesy of Mark Duffy’s cross but ballooned his shot over the crossbar.
A neat bit of work between Eaton and Noone down the
left wing led to Eaton feeding a dangerous cross to Adam Birchall
at the edge of the box, but Birchall’s touch was
blocked by Newton and ricocheted to Kevin Lee who could only clear as far as
Aaron Turner who stole a march on Newton before delivering a great shot from an
acute angle that was heading target bound but for a great reflex save by
keeper, Whiteside.
David Eaton was given a free header in the 17th minute, when Craig Noone played a lovely cross in at the near post, but sadly
the ball glanced off his head and spun across the face of the goal.
Craig Noone’s free kick in the 41st minute went just wide of the
upright, and seconds later Evans turned his market before shooting into the
keepers hands.
United
could’ve gone in for their half time cuppa on level terms when Southport failed
to clear Craig Noone’s cross properly. Evans latched onto the loose ball and
sidestepped his marker before shooting just wide of the target.
Steve Akrigg headed over in the first minute of the second half
as once again Craig Noone supplied a lovely cross
this time to the far post.
Mark Duffy’s cross in the 51st minute went unchallenged, but Liam Blakeman blazed his shot over the crossbar when it looked
easier to score than miss.
Craig Noone came to life in the second half and
The game
threatened to be overshadowed by a silly incident in the 74th
minute. Sean Foster whom had initially
won a free kick continued to challenge for the ball and in the process robustly
tackled Chris Lever.
In what
can only be described as an over zealous tackle for which Foster would
eventually receive a yellow card for, Southport boss Peter Davenport couldn’t
hide his anger and raced on the pitch towards him, but as bodies attempted to
block the confrontation; Davenport lashed out with a right hook which hit Skem boss Tommy Lawson in the shoulder and sent him
sprawling to the ground.
It was
‘handbags at dawn’ at its best, with Lawson acknowledging that he slipped which
made it look far worse than it was.
Still Davenport, a former Nottingham Forest, Manchester United,
Sunderland and England striker, should’ve taken more control of himself and
will grateful that it didn’t lead to a riot off the pitch, as these incidents
sometimes tend to do.
Craig Noone came closest to snatching an equalizer in
the closing stages with a superb volley which was inches away from target, and
as the game went deep into injury time, Noone’s
speculative effort landed on the roof of the net.
The full
timers from the Blue Square North League looked relieved as the final whistle
was blown, but United exited the FA Cup with a great deal of pride.
STARMAN: Michael Duffy (Skelmersdale)
Committed
from the start and led by example throughout the game.
RATING: 4/5
Team:
Skelmersdale United:
McMahon, Duffy, Foster, Akrigg, White © Holland (15. McConville) Birchall, Turner,
Evans, Eaton (12. Donnelly 83) Noone.
Subs Not Used: 14. Cass, 16. Hardwick,
17. Lowe.
Att: 769