TUESDAY 21ST
AUGUST 2007.
SKELMERSDALE UNITED 0
WOODLEY SPORTS 0
(WRITES FRANK HUGHES)
Once again United treated their supporters to a fine display of
football but unfortunately they did everything but hit the back of the net,
with Woodley looking occasionally dangerous on the counter attack.
United looked keen from the start when in the opening minute
Craig Noone sent a lovely ball from the half way line
to Tony Evans who in turn chested the ball down,
unfortunately the ball went wider than he anticipated and his eventual shot
although on target was weaker than intended.
The combination of Evans and Noone was
prominent again in the 8th minute when Noone’s
excellent cross to the far post was headed across the face of the goal by
Evans.
Michael Duffy turned supplier with a cross to the far post, and
this time it was Noone that was on the end of
it. However, he didn’t get hold of the
ball well enough and in the end volleyed it well wide of the upright.
Noone was at it again as he supplied David
Eaton and a neat ball through to Evans culminated in another shot at the
target, but once again the finishing touch wasn’t good enough and the keeper
gathered comfortably.
Nick Boothby’s point blank shot in the 41st minute
was blocked by McMahon and as the ball returned to the Woodley captain, McMahon
blocked his advance bravely.
A long ball from Michael White minutes into the second half was
brought down by Evans and threaded through to John Cass and struck on the half
volley the ball flew over the crossbar.
Tony Evans’ header was deflected wide in the 50th
minute and from the resultant corner Aaron Turner’s shot was blazed over the
crossbar from 20-yards out.
Tony Evans almost broke the deadlock in the 67th
minute but for the Woodley keeper Liam Higginbotham who pulled off a
magnificent fingertip save.
In the 81st minute a great individual effort by Craig
Noone went just high and wide of its intended target.
John Cass was lively throughout the game and should’ve bagged
himself a hat trick with all the opportunities he had, particularly the one in
injury time, but the keeper once again pulled off a another great save – the
ball however fell to Craig Noone at the edge of the
6-yard box but somehow he miscued his shot when it looked easier to score than
miss.
M.O.M. Craig Noone.
The most skilful and exciting player I’ve ever witnessed at this
level of football, and many rungs above.
He terrorised the Woodley defence, skinning opponent after
opponent like he does every week, but how on earth the big scouts aren’t
watching him is beyond me.
I’m not trying to sell him; he quite simply sells himself more
than I could ever do, but Nooney is a class above
anything, and like I’ve said before he’s the most gifted player the club has
produced since Steve Heighway.
McMahon, Duffy, Hardwick, Akrigg, White,
ATT: 216.