Curzon Ashton 1 Skelmersdale United 1

Jan 28 2010 by Our Correspondent, Ormskirk Advertiser

AT the end of an exciting and incident packed game, Skelmersdale United manager Tommy Lawson was left in two minds.

He said: “Before the game I would have gladly accepted a draw here, Curzon are a good team.”

But, although he wouldn’t be drawn, it was clear he wasn’t pleased, having witnessed his side miss a penalty, go a goal up, concede a scruffy leveller and then see the opponents’ crossbar hit soon after the equaliser.

The game had initially started badly for Skelmersdale, and only a sharp save from keeper Ryan McMahon kept out Phil Edghill as United didn’t wake up until 90 seconds had elapsed.

However, the next quarter hour was dominated by United, and they had a chance in the fourth minute, Aaron Turner clipped the ball over the top of the home defence and as Chris Almond rounded home keeper Javier Sanchez, the keeper felled him.

Referee Gavin Hock elected to show the keeper a yellow card, when he wouldn’t have criticised much if he had shown a red one.

Mr Hock’s decision had a significant effect on the proceedings, a point immediately highlighted when Sanchez dived full length to his left to tip away Michael White’s penalty.

In the 21st minute McMahon made a good save at the near-post to keep out Edghill, before bettering that with another near-post save from Chris Worsley in the 28th minute.

In the 33rd minute, Liam Loughlin made Sanchez produce the save of the match, acrobatically bending backwards to turn Loughlin’s 20 yard half volley over the bar. Ironically considering he might not even have been on the pitch, Sanchez frustrated Skelmersdale once more before the break, going low to his left to keep out Ledsham’s shot.

The opening period of the second-half was a bit bad tempered and until almost the hour mark neither keeper was overly extended.