Skem go so close to breaching fortress

SKELMERSDALE United haven’t won away all season, Buxton haven’t lost a home game all season and sit second in the Evo-Stik Premier Division table.

So when the two met at Buxton’s Silverlands ground Skelmersdale had no chance on paper.

Well Tommy Lawson’s side didn’t read the script and by the final whistle it was Buxton who were thanking their luck as Skem headed home over the Cat & Fiddle Pass wondering how they hadn’t won.

Skelmersdale set their stall out early and after 12 minutes they had nearly scored, had a penalty turned down and had sent the home crossbar rocking.

So they clearly had no respect for Buxton’s home record.

In the eighth minute Tom Ince slipped Chris Almond through, he rounded home goalkeeper Jan Budtz, but from a tight angle could only find the side netting.

In the 9th minute, Luke Wall sought to get onto a Shaun Holden cross but was flattened by a push in the back; however, no penalty was given.

Then in the 12th minute Wall picked up the ball on the right and cut across the front of the home defence, he then thundered a shot from 20 yards that thumped against the crossbar, leaving it visibly moving afterwards.

The chances continued and on 20 minutes Kenny Strickland’s corner was allowed to go right across the face of goal, but nobody from Skem could get the vital touch.

All this time Buxton struggled to break down Skelmersdale’s defence, the only save goalkeeper Martin Fearon had to make was from a fairly weak header, although on 37 minutes only a sharp intervention from Alex Davies saved Skelmersdale as Joel Bembo-Leta led a rare viable counterattack for Buxton.

The early part of the second-half was close but again it was noticeable that Buxton weren’t making much in the way of chances against Skelmersdale’s stubborn defence.

The game livened up just before the hour mark, Almond pulled the ball back but Ince fired over the crossbar, then down the other end Peter Wylie pulled off a magnificently timed tackle to keep out Bradley Grayson as he had the goal at his mercy.

Buxton are aiming for promotion so as you would expect they had a period on top.

On 69 minutes Bembo-Leta headed wide off a Jamie Green cross, then via a counterattack Bembo-Leta was running straight for the Skem goal when Wall tripped him and got a well deserved yellow card for his troubles.

In the 81st minute all Skelmersdale’s nightmares looked to be coming true, Buxton won a penalty.

Alastair Taylor chased a high ball into the box with Holden immediately behind him, Taylor stopped suddenly, Holden crashed into him and the referee pointed to the spot.

Skelmersdale’s frustration turned to joy as Grayson blasted the penalty kick both high and wide for one of the worst attempts you are likely to see all season. It was a bit of luck for Skem, but they were having none up front and by the end it would be Buxton who got the Lion’s share of the luck.

The game entered four minutes added time, Buxton pressed but again Skelmersdale held firm and threatened on the break.

First Alex Davies rounded two men before shooting wide.

Then on 92 minutes, home goalkeeper Budtz came out to gather a long ball but misjudged it in the rain and mud, Wall won the ball and Budtz frantically chased him, somehow the ball went wide.

A minute later Ben Hodkinson broke at pace, his shot was saved by Budtz and for a manic few seconds the ball bounced around the home goalmouth, again somehow Buxton survived.