Skelmersdale United show Colwyn Bay the way with vital win

Mar 26 2009 by Our Correspondent, Ormskirk Advertiser

Skelmersdale United 3

Colwyn Bay 0

TWO disciplined teams fighting for promotion came head to head for the third time this season – but it was United who took the honours again, and, more importantly, all three points.

Not surprisingly, given the high stakes, the game began very cagily.

If anything Colwyn Bay’s Achilles’ heel was the fact that they were protecting an 11-match unbeaten run which had seen them accumulate 31 league points, whereas United looked the far more relaxed team.

When the game opened up a little in the 17th minute it was Colwyn Bay who produced the first opportunity.

A superb block by Skem keeper Ryan McMahon on his goal-line preventing Michael McGraa from dispatching Canning’s cross.

Almost on the break United opened the scoring with a fabulous individual goal by Neil Robinson.

The United player hit an unbelievable strike from around 30 yards into the top left corner of Christopher Sanna’s net.

United were forced to defend again in the 23rd minute, McMahon turning Ashton Taylor’s shot past his upright.

A minute later Adam Birchall miraculously managed to back heel Thomas Spearritt’s header off the line, as Skem rode their luck once again.

In the 35th minute Sanna just got his fingertips to halt Robinson’s goal-bound header, and on the stroke of half time Kyle Armstrong’s 20-yarder was high and wide of the angle as Skem finished the half stronger.

Skem played a patient game in the second half, and were more than happy to stem the tide that Bay were trying their best to create.

Substitutions by both sides changed the shape of the game, but by then United had won the physical battle and Steve Akrigg was more than happy to accommodate their strategy of pinging high balls for him to clear.

The crucial insurance goal came in the 80th minute and it was due to the fresh legs of Paul Prescott who raced on to Kevin Towey’s forward ball.

Just as he looked to be going for glory himself he flicked a cross over to Mark Houghton at the far post who in turn volleyed the ball past Sanna.

McMahon blocked another shot in the 84th minute following a melee in the six-yard box, which rather summed up Colwyn’s fortune on the day, and to add insult to injury United wrapped the game up in the last minute.

Houghton chased a lost cause and not only managed to prevent the ball from going for a corner, he nudged it back to Towey who poked the ball between the two centre halves to see it canter over the goal-line.

United moved up into third place and sent a clear message that they’re hungry for the direct route to promotion rather than the lottery of the play-offs.

Man of the Match: Steve Akrigg – simply unbeatable in the air and on the ground all afternoon.

Skelmersdale United: McMahon, Foster, Crowder, Akrigg, White, Walker (Wade 85) Towey, Birchall, Houghton, Robinson (Prescott 74), Armstrong. Subs (not used): Morrison, Wright, Duffy.