Dog day afternoon sees Skem edged out
AFTER last week’s poor form, Skelmersdale United manager Alan Rogers was looking forward to spending a fixtureless midweek working on improving things with some specialist training sessions.
And the hard work almost worked a treat as his young team agonisingly missed out on a point down in the West Midlands.
After a first-half that will be remembered more for the antics of a wayward Beagle than for flowing football, Skelmersdale went a goal down soon after the break, they fought back well and but for a fine penalty save by the home goalkeeper would have surely earned a point for their efforts.
The first-half really was a scrappy affair; the highlight from a football perspective was a shot from 20 yards by Halesowen’s Lee Chilton that Skelmersdale goalkeeper Chris Cheetham dealt with via a full length dive to his right, but that only came about after Skem had given the ball away in the middle of the park.
Midway through the half a pitch invasion by a Beagle dog was the most memorable moment, deftly avoiding capture for a full seven minutes, the dog’s expert body swerves have been shown on national television and have gone viral on a certain well known computer based film site.
The key phrase “A Dog’s Day at Halesowen” would be helpful if you fancy a good laugh.
The second-half was a lot better as the hosts started the half strongly. Chilton put a shot across the face of goal and Asa Charlton lobbed the ball over the Skem crossbar in the first few minutes.
It could be said that defending corners have been Skelmersdale’s Achilles’ heel for a while now and it occurred again in the 55th minute.
Halesowen sent a left wing corner curling onto the edge of the six yard box, Bradley Lewis met the ball on the run, rising above two static Skem defenders, his powerful header went low to the centre of the goal, hitting a Skem defender on the goal-line on route to the back of the net.
Three minutes later Skelmersdale got their big chance to equalise. Steve Gillespie chased a bouncing ball into the Halesowen penalty area, where Remy Howarth headed on into his path, a clumsy challenge saw Gillespie knocked to the ground and a penalty was given.
The former Colchester United player took the spot-kick himself, his right-foot shot being met by a firm hand from home keeper Dan Platt which took the ball away to safety.
Immediately afterwards Halesowen pressed again, but the nearest they went was another Chilton effort that went wide then a shot from Ben Clarke that Cheetham saved well.
Skelmersdale pushed hard to rescue a point later on, but the chance was gone despite a hugely improved performance.
Rogers has another blank midweek again to work on his young squad. If he produces as much improvement again they must have every chance of beating a struggling Frickley Athletic at the Uretek Stadium on Saturday.