TUESDAY 11^TH SEPTEMBER 2007.

 

CHORLEY 0 SKELMERSDALE UNITED 0

 

(WRITES FRANK HUGHES)

 

It’s not very often when you can describe a 0-0 draw as the most entertaining game you’ve ever watched, but this certainly ranks high especially where value for money is concerned.

 

In a pulsating game from start to finish; the only question was how on the earth did the game remain goalless.  The answer was a sterling performance between the sticks by both keepers.

 

Chorley edged the first half purely on clear cut chances.  Danny Nolan was the thorn in United’s side as his pace threatened on more than one occasion to open up the United defence.  Indeed his industry led to a couple of shots; the first of which was cleared off the line by Steve Akrigg and the second shortly afterwards was parried by stand-in keeper Ian Lowe and comfortably gathered at the second attempt.

 

Lowe who was making his first team debut for the injured Ryan McMahon, pulled off another stunning save in the 23^rd minute.  Danny Nolan’s cross-field pass found veteran Kenny Mayers, and what looked to be a dead cert was eventually turned away for a corner courtesy of Lowe’s tremendous reflexes.

 

United somehow had to stem the flow of attacks and the only way to do that was catch the homeside on the counter.  In the 37^th minute David Eaton’s cross found the head of John Cass, and as the ball trickled across the face of the goal, Adam Birchall stooped to head the ball when it was begging to be tucked away with his right foot – the result was a weakened shot that was cleared as far as Aaron Turner who fired his shot wide.

 

John Cass’ shot was blocked en route in the 38^th minute as was Eaton’s header a couple of minutes later.  And the first half was finished off with a great bit of footwork by Craig Noone which resulted in a shot on target which Priestley gathered well.

 

It was more or less one way traffic in the second half, with Noone’s contribution down the wing and during set pieces proving influential.  His free kick in the 53^rd minute was headed just over the cross bar by Michael White, and his cross a minute later was headed by John Cass.

 

Cass found the sidenetting soon after as Eaton was proving to equally as influential as Noone in the final third.

 

Noone was twice denied in the space of three minutes.  John Cass split the Chorley defence with a great through ball to Noone who cut inside his marker before seeing his shot blocked as it was heading for the target.  Noone’s second attempt was much similar, but this time it came from a great cross by Eaton, but once again the shot was blocked.

 

Tony Evans replaced Cass in the 68^th minute and had an immediate impact as he found McConville at the far post with a great cross, but amazingly Priestley denied his effort by somehow managing to claw the ball over the crossbar bang on the goal line.

 

McConville returned the favour in the 74^th minute when he put Evans through.  One on one with the keeper the vastly experienced Priestley imitated Peter Scmeichel as first he cut the angle off and then made him self large enough to smother Evans’ shot.

 

United kept things going to the very death.  Eaton, McConville and Akrigg all denied opportunities and as the game went into injury time Tony Evans produced the shot of the game as he hit the crossbar with a rasping shot that this time had Priestley beaten.

 

M.O.M. Michael Duffy.

 

Michael stifled many of Chorley’s attempts at catching United on the break, but it’s also fair to say he also led the charge from the back as well. 

 

Ian Lowe, a replacement for the injured Ryan McMahon was instrumental in keeping United in the game in the first half, but had little to do in the second half as the defence kept Chorley at bay, but credit to all as they all had supporting roles to play in what was an amazing nights football.

 

Lowe, Duffy, Hardwick, (14. Foster 55) Akrigg, White, Holland, Birchall (15. McConville 64) Turner, Eaton, Cass (12. Evans 68) Noone.

 

Att:316