Skem suffered heartache in the play-offs on Tuesday night

Apr 30 2009 by Our Correspondent, Ormskirk Advertiser

CURZON Ashton won through to the play-off final with an 84th minute winner by Phil Edgehill and it was a goal worthy of the entrance fee alone.

In a very close game it was either going to be a mistake or a bit of class that was going to separate the two teams.

It was a very tense affair which never really lived up to the pre-match hype, with the ball spending much of the time up in the air rather than on the pitch, which suited Curzon’s style of play more than Skem’s.

Ryan McMahon was in the thick of the action for much of the first half; called upon mainly to pluck the ball out of the air, and he did his job in a professional manner.

The shot’s that Curzon managed to pull off were either high or wide.

Dean Hasim’s 25-yarder was well wide of the target, as was David Birch’s a few minutes later.

Kevin Towey laid the ball off to Adam Wade in the 40th minute but his shot was blocked en route but that was about the only effort that Skem managed in the first half.

Phil Edghill’s cross sneaked behind Skem’s defence as did Alex Elliot, but with only McMahon to beat he sidefooted the ball wide when it looked easier to score than miss.

Curzon had without doubt edged the first half.

United looked brighter in the second half.

Adam Birchall was instrumental in United’s revival, and when he picked up Towey in the 46th minute, Curzon responded with a rapid clearance before Towey had the chance to unload.

A minute later though United were lucky not to concede as Alex Elliot’s shot took a wicked deflection and dipped sharp enough to force McMahon into turning the ball over the bar.

Kyle Armstrong’s 25-yarder was high of the target in the 55th minute. It was great build up play which led to the opportunity.

Adam Birchall’s interception forced Curzon on the back foot, and once again he found Towey who hit the ball first time only to see his shot blocked. Fortunately it ricocheted to Kyle Armstrong, but unfortunately it wasn’t the best of strikes.

Michael White took receipt of the keepers’ spilt ball, but on the turn his shot was well wide of the target.

Steve Akrigg headed inches wide from Wade’s corner in the 60th minute.

Curzon came close in the 67th minute when Dean Hasim’s header was tipped over the bar quite magnificently by Ryan McMahon.

From the resultant corner, Skem caught Curzon on the break, and eventually Martin Crowder turned his marker following a lay off from Aaron Turner, and from an acute angle he unleashed a shot which came off the upright and was eventually scrambled away to safety.

Steve Akrigg’s long range shot was spilt by the keeper in the 78th minute, and two minutes later a great saving tackle by Adam Wade in his own half reversed the pressure, and in space he lifted the ball over to Kevin Towey who attacked the ball in the box. The keeper came out but spilt the ball once again and then scooped it out of Mark Houghton’s reach.

The winner came in the 84th minute when a deep cross evaded Skem’s defence; landing in Phil Edghill’s path. He took one touch before unleashing a fine shot over Ryan McMahon into the top left hand corner of the net.

United almost forced the game into extra time when Towey sent an inviting cross into the box. The ball evaded the first line of defence and fell nicely to Thomas Moore, but somehow he sidenetted a glorious opportunity.

United just about edged the second half, but in the end it proved to be one game too many, and the team that finished 18-points behind Skem marched on to the final.

M.O.M. Adam Birchall

Team:

McMahon, Duffy, Crowder, Akrigg, White, Turner, Wade (17. Moore 86) Birchall, Houghton (14. Prescott 86) Towey, Armstrong. Subs Not Used: 12. Morrison, 15. Wright, 16. Walker.

Att: 324.