Hare and Hounds win the Skem District League after a gripping battle against Polo

May 7 2009 by Our Correspondent, Ormskirk Advertiser

Polo3

Hare & Hounds3

THIS was effectively a cup final with the top two sides in the League playing to decide the title.

It also proved to be the game of the season – one which drew comparisons to the 2005 Champions League Final!Š Polo took the lead in the first minute through Paul Moores and kept up a high tempo in the match to take a 2-0 lead after 12 minutes when Paul Moores again found the net.

Polo never sat back on their lead and kept on pressing forward, keeping Hare & Hounds on the back foot, and in the 26th minute it was 3-0 as Steve Edwards rifled home to give Polo what looked like an unassailable lead at half time.

The second half proved to be a totally different story as Hare & Hounds finally woke up and decided to give Polo a game.Š

John Carroll pulled a goal back for Hare & Hounds in the 56th minute, and in the 67th minute Adam Hallam gave them real hope with a second.Š The game was frenetic for the last 15 minutes as Polo tried to hold on for the win which would give them the title, but it was talismanic substitute Mark King who snatched a late equaliser in the 84th minute to level the scores and hand the League Title to Hare & Hounds in a superb end of season finale.Š

Full credit should be given to both sides for a fantastic game of football and also a special mention to the referee Mark Hickey who controlled the game quietly but efficiently.

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Shevington Park 5

Pingwood 8

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THE other game of the day also provided some great entertainment, with goals aplenty and a game that swung from end to end.Š

S.Blackburn grabbed the opening 2 goals after 8 and 15 minutes for Shevvy with C. Brown pulling one back for Pingwood after 17.Š S. Maynes then levelled things up after 22 minutes with S. Rood putting Pingwood ahead after 24 minutes.Š

S. Blackburn then ensured things would be all square at the break as he made it 3-3 on the stroke of half time.Š The second period saw another glut of goals as S. Rood grabbed his second on 53 minutes, only to see Jay Stuart level things up for Shevvy in the 59th minute.Š

Rood then completed his hat trick after 62 minutes with M. Pryce adding another after 68.Š M. Stuart pulled another goal back for Shevvy in the 70th minute but S. Maynes rounded off a fine performance with the final goal of the game in the last minute to give Pingwood a deserved victory.

ŠThe Tommy Rogers Skelmersdale Sunday League is now accepting applications for teams to enter the league for the 2009/2010 season contact Jim Wilson on 01695 725971.

The Tommy Rogers Skelmersdale Sunday League is also now accepting applications for referees to join the league for the 2009/2010 season contact Jim Wilson on 01695 725971.