Predictable draw as Skem end season
SKELMERSDALE United finished their season in the Evo-Stik Division One North in what was probably a predictable way, another away draw, their tenth on their travels out of 21 away games.
Only one team has managed more in the division.
Dave Powell’s team took the lead midway through the first-half but found themselves 2-1 down by the hour mark, before levelling with a determined dribble and vicious strike into the top corner by Scott Bakkor.
Skelmersdale started well but it was Clitheroe who had the first chance in the 12th minute.
Kurt Willoughby was put through on goal, but Skelmersdale goalkeeper Chris Cheetham left his line to snub out the danger.
Two minutes later the Skem defence was split wide open as Ross Dent had time and space in the semicircle, he lifted the ball over an advancing Cheetham, but was left head in hands as the ball bounced wide of the Skelmersdale goal.
It was Skelmersdale who took the lead a minute later, Bakkor controlled well and slipped the ball to Liam Davies, the older brother of Everton star Tom, put a shot across home goalkeeper Chris Thompson into the far corner.
Matters became pretty close for a while after that with both teams cancelling each other out and struggling to generate a viable opportunity.
However, there was a talking point in the 37th minute when the hosts were reduced to ten men. Clitheroe midfielder Joe Mitchell and Skelmersdale leftback Jack Fleming clashed, chest to chest, Fleming was left crouching down holding his face, the actual reason can only be speculated on. Play paused and referee Matt Scholes brandished his red card at Mitchell.
The incident may well have broken Skelmersdale’s concentration as two minutes later Clitheroe equalised, a loose back pass went straight to Dent and from an angle he steered the ball past Cheetham from about ten yards to make it 1-1.
Skelmersdale went onto the attack and might well have restored their lead before the interval, Mike Roddy, Davies and James Barrigan all had shots saved by Thompson and Bakkor drove a shot inches wide.
Clitheroe came out sharply after the break and Cheetham made a couple of good saves before the hosts took the lead in the 59th minute. Willoughby got into space on the right and ran at Fleming, he put in a cross to the near-post, where Dent met the ball with a diving header to make it 2-1.
Skelmersdale then had more of the play, Thompson made a double save and Bakkor put a shot wide.
Fifteen minutes from the end that changed, Bakkor trapped the ball down around 30 yards from goal on the left, he cut across the pitch then spying the chance unleashed a curling powerful shot straight into the far top corner to make it 2-2. It was a quality goal.
As the season reached its finale Skelmersdale finished the stronger outfit but shooting was wayward, the one effort that almost brought a winner was a 25 yard shot from Liam Hollett but Thompson did well to tip it over his crossbar.