Roberts the spot kick hero for Skem

SKELMERSDALE United made the short run up the M6 to take on a team who started the day just one point off the top of Evo-Stik Division One North, so it is fair to say that they went more in hope than expectation.

But when the final whistle blew at the Sir Tom Finney Stadium everyone had to agree that they earned at least a share of the spoils on the day, in a closely fought encounter on a heavy pitch, all prompting manager Dave Powell in his post match interview to describe it as a “positive point.”

Skelmersdale were the better team in the opening 15 minutes and but for a couple of good saves they could well have taken the lead.

After just a few seconds Jordan Darr went down the right-wing then cut inside only to see his low ball right across the face of goal fail to generate a finishing touch from Tyler Rufus or debutant striker Tom Hulme.

In the third minute Hulme showed just why Dave Powell has thrown him straight into his line-up when he created an angle in the penalty area semi-circle before smashing a right-foot shot that home goalkeeper Lloyd Rigby just about managed to finger tip over his crossbar. This was followed up on 11 minutes by a Jack Lenehan shot that fizzed over the Bridge crossbar and a Rigby save from a header. In the 16 minute, Rufus cleared long, Hulme headed on and Darr was away on goal, outpacing his trailing marker Adam Dodd who cynically tripped Darr some 25 yards from goal.

Referee Matthew Scholes quite rightly sent off Dodd, Darr was definitely through and Dodd was definitely the last man.

From the free-kick, Bridge had to thank keeper Rigby again, who pulled off a top-class tip over the bar from a thunderous Jack Fleming left-foot drive.

The sending off did change things and it was instantly observable that Bamber Bridge went to one up front.

Skelmersdale were still a danger and on 27 minutes Mike Roddy picked out Rufus with a pin point pass, after a quick turn Rufus saw his shot charged down by keeper Rigby who was having a good game.

Gradually Bamber Bridge began to settle into a rhythm despite having only ten men and they came more into the game as an attacking force.

On 35 minutes Skelmersdale goalkeeper Lee Callum Roberts made a good save low down from Alistair Waddecar, then on 42 minutes the elusive Lewis Nightingale shot just wide from 15 yards.

It was Nightingale who set up Regan Linney after 53 minutes, the left-winger was in on goal and was tripped by Phil Mooney who might well have joined Bamber Bridge’s Dodd in the dressing room, however, he has to thank Liam Hollett for getting in behind him and saving his skin, but a penalty was still given. Macauley Wilson took the penalty, placing the ball to keeper Roberts left, Roberts didn’t just save it, he held the ball too.

From the hour mark onwards, the game looked more and more likely to be goalless.

Bamber Bridge faded as an attacking force, no doubt the fatigue caused by only having ten men having an effect, while Skelmersdale pressed but their old problem of not being able to open defences up came to the fore.

With eleven minutes remaining Roddy went close for Skem, curling a left-foot shot from about 20 yards that keeper Rigby had to be on his toes to deal with.

As added time beckoned substitute Bevan Burey cleverly created a shooting chance for Jack Lenehan but his right-foot effort went over the Bridge crossbar.

Two minutes into the extra period Bridge made one more attacking move, Waddecar doing well to twist his way out of a Josh Wardle tackle and he fed the ball through to an on the run Nightingale, Roberts was again quick to respond and dived at Nightingale’s feet to smother the danger.

The blank scoreline was fair, Skelmersdale didn’t deserve to lose and Bamber Bridge had only themselves to blame for being down to ten men.

After the match Dave Powell praised his goalkeeper Lee Callum Roberts and gave credit to his defence saying: “The back four were outstanding against some very quick, agile players and coped with them well.

“I am really pleased overall. Before the game I would have probably settled for a point against these away from home, they are flying and have had some really good results recently.

“We just dug-in and kept the ball moving well when we were on the attack. It’s a positive point and we move on to Tuesday night’s match at Colne.”