Skem United suffered their first defeat in 14 games

Apr 30 2009 by Our Correspondent, Ormskirk Advertiser

Skem Utd1

Newcastle Blue Star2

UNITED missed a golden opportunity to go top of the league with their first defeat in 14 games, writes Frank Hughes.

Blue Star created the first opportunity of the game when Alex Benjamin’s header was turned wide by Ian Lowe in the 13th minute.

United had far more possession, but chances were few and far between.

Martin Crowder’s free kick in the 27th minute forced the keeper into making a save at full stretch. In fact he did that well that he even managed to keep hold of the ball, which on another day he might have spilt.

Aaron Turner was sent off in the 37th minute, and rightly so for stamping on his opponent and that was the changing point in the game in many ways.

Three minutes before the half time whistle, Alex Benjamin got behind Skem’s defence; controlled the ball with his hand before slotting the ball into the bottom right hand corner of the net. The Skem faithful were expecting the referee to award Skem a free kick, but shockingly it never came, and Skem restarted the game a goal in arrears.

Skem got back on terms in the 48th minute when Michael White bundled the ball over the line via a Crowder free kick to the far post, and from that point on United’s attacking was incessant.

Chris Almond’s cross was struck well by Martin Crowder on the volley in the 50th minute, but was unfortunately wide of the target.

Mark Houghton did well to win the ball and squeeze along the by-line before playing a tempting cross to the edge of the box which Kyle Armstrong picked up and struck well, but this time the ball clipped the upright and ricocheted into touch.

It was no surprise when Skem were once again caught on the break, and Alex Benjamin placed the ball beyond the advancing Lowe into the bottom left hand corner of the net to condemn Skem to defeat.

A quick throw deep into injury time was played to Mark Houghton who beat his marker to turn and shoot, but the shot lacked power and was easily gather by Norton which just about summed up Skem’s luck on the night. Although Skem perhaps would’ve done far better had they been playing with a full team, because they were the fitter team my a country mile and would've stretched Blue Star far more, had Turner still been involved in the fray.

M.O.M. Kyle Armstrong.