Skem show Blyth some spirit

A LITTLE glance at the context of Saturday’s match makes this scoreline look...well, not that bad.

Blyth are running away clear at the top of the Evo-Stik Premier Division and Skelmersdale are bottom, 62 points behind them and the goal difference between the teams is 115.

So to go down 4-0 with the latter goal arriving in the 87th minute is no disgrace. But it still represents a miserable day out if you are a Skem fan.

Skelmersdale manager Alan Rogers made three changes from the side that lost in midweek to Sutton Coldfield Town and one thing they proved was that they were determined not to get the severe beating the bookmakers predicted.

Skem’s Seb Bradshaw brought a save out of Blyth goalkeeper Paul Woolston before Blyth got their breakthrough on 36 minutes. Maguire took the ball wide on the right and cut in towards goal, his shot come cross from a tight angle sneaking inside the far post.

Two minutes later Blyth made it 2-0. Armstrong chased a long bouncing ball and successfully contested a challenge from Hilton. He then crossed into the box and arch goal poacher Maguire tapped the ball home for his second.

The time between the second goal and the interval was ridden out well by Skem.

It was the 64th minute before Blyth put the game beyond Skelmersdale’s reach. A left-wing corner was headed on by Ryan Hutchinson to Jordan Watson at the far post and he duly headed in.

Between the third goal (64 mins) and the fourth (87 mins) Skelmersdale did have one bit of luck, Pattison had a simple chance at the far post on 80 minutes but somehow contrived to play the ball straight into Hilton’s hands.

The final goal came from Armstrong, finishing off a quality passing move.

Skelmersdale didn’t look like winning, but they did have the pride to make sure they didn’t suffer too badly against a team that should be two divisions above them next season.