Skemelsdale save best for last

Jan 28 2010 by Our Correspondent, Ormskirk Advertiser

ALTHOUGH Skelmersdale only confirmed victory with two goals in the last ten minutes, manager Tommy Lawson glowed: “That was close to being the best performance of the season.”

Skem took the lead in the 14th minute, then despite having a host a chances, found themselves drawn back onto level terms in the 69th minute, before finishing the stronger team and finally securing a thoroughly deserved victory with a pair of unstoppable strikes.

Initially, Bamber Bridge took the game to Skelmersdale and keeper Ryan McMahon made two crucial saves with only seconds gone, first from Chris Marlow, then from Ashley Dunn.

If Skelmersdale’s early scare did some good, it let them know they were in a game. Chris Almond soon went close before having another effort saved by impressive visiting keeper Ben Hinchclife.

The all action Almond gave Skelmersdale the lead in the 14th minute and duly got plenty of plaudits for the way he controlled the ball rounded Hinchcliffe then confidently slotted home, however, a huge amount of the credit must go to Mike Duffy, who provided a through ball that can only be described as sublime, from the halfway line, lifting the ball over the Bridge defence and straight into Almond’s path.

On the half-hour mark Skelmersdale had a goal disallowed due to an offside flag. Kyle Armstrong finding the net, after Almond and Karl Ledsham created mayhem among the Bridge backline.

The balance of play after the break was similar to the first period, with Skelmersdale on the offensive.

Skelmersdale’s play began to have a kind of macabre inevitability about it and in the 69th minute, the premonitions came horrifically to life for the home support.