Setback won’t drag us down

Oct 25 2012 Skelmersdale Advertiser

TOMMY LAWSON admitted Skelmersdale United’s draw with New Mills on Tuesday night had “felt like a defeat”, but backed his players to bounce straight back this weekend.

Skem led on three occasions against New Mills, but were pegged back each time. It means they have dropped their first points of the season, in their ninth league fixture. They sit second in the Evo-Stik First Division table, six points behind leaders Mossley but with four games in hand.

Lawson said: “It was a good game between two good sides, and it was an entertaining contest as a result.

“The lads were a bit disappointed afterwards, and it probably felt like a defeat in many ways. But that’s not a bad attitude to have. We’ve been spoilt this season with eight straight wins, but we can’t have it all our own way every single game.

“Still, I thought we did enough to have won the game. We scored three and could have scored five more. The chances we created were very positive, and have been all season.”

Lawson said he was surprised to see his side give away three goals on home soil. Skem had conceded just twice in their opening seven league matches, but have shipped five in their last two - including a 3-2 comeback win over Curzon Ashton on Saturday.

“We were sloppy to concede the goals we did,” said Lawson. “We’re creating chances, but I was a bit disappointed with the manner in which we conceded against both Curzon and New Mills.

“Our defensive record has been the backbone to the good start that we have had to the season, but we need to rectify the individual errors, and I am sure we will do that.”

Lawson will welcome back Tony Rendell for Saturday’s FA Trophy tie at Witton Albion, though he will be without the suspended Rob McIntosh.

Skem face a trip third-placed Clitheroe in the league three days later.

“Eight wins and a draw heading towards the quarter-season mark,” said Lawson. “We’ve got to be happy with that. We have played some good teams too, who will be in the mix. And so will we be!”