Beaten - but so impressive
IT was a frustrating afternoon for Skelmersdale United on Saturday. They have nothing tangible to show from an excellent performance away to promotion chasing Mossley, having an equalising goal wiped out just before half-time for a debateable foul.
Elsewhere, just to rub salt into the wounds, relegation rivals Glossop North End had a good away win, making things just that bit more difficult for Paul McNally’s team.
Mossley began the game on the front foot but Skelmersdale limited them to very little in the way of threatening raids on goal, the one promising attack seeing Liam Boden nip swiftly from his line to close down and smother Raul Correia as the number eleven looked to lift the ball over him.
At the other end Alex Griffiths skilfully broke from the centre of the park but lost the ball as he reached the 18 yard box, but it was a demonstration of Skelmersdale’s potential.
Adam Jones put a header over the Skelmersdale crossbar and home goalkeeper Josh Ollerenshaw grasped the ball at Sean Yeldrem’s feet.
For a bottom of the league team playing away to a promotion chasing side, Skelmersdale were doing very well.
In the 35th minute Skelmersdale got the ball into the net, Tom Molyneux chipped in a corner and keeper Ollerenshaw flapped at the ball, Samson got his head onto the ball and headed it home, Samson raised his hand but referee Kieron Johnson signalled for a foul.
Having viewed a replay of the incident several times, it is not screamingly obvious as to why the foul was given although apparently the referee did explain later on.
With half-time beckoning Skelmersdale went close again, receiving the ball to his feet in the penalty area John Keatley who was playing in an unaccustomed forward role, managed to turn and hit the ball at goal, Ollerenshaw sprawled to his left and was able to prevent a goal.
With only a bit of luck Skelmersdale could well have turned around with a share of the goals scored.
For a period after the interval Mossley held the upper hand as they went to finish Skelmersdale off.
Samson scrambled one ball away, another was headed over his own crossbar by Skem defender Keegan, and Liam Boden made one superb reaction tip over his bar from a point blank Correia shot, Skem clung on and they were still in with a chance.
Gradually Skem got back into the game but their main problem was they were not opening the Mossley defence up when they had possession, so they were not doing enough in front of goal to get a goal.
From a Skelmersdale perspective, the game drifted away in the end, they had gone to Tameside with many expecting another big defeat, but they can be proud of their work.
They matched and worried one of the better teams in their division, sentiments that were echoed by manager Paul McNally after the match.
He said: “One of our better performances this season against a good side, really strong outfit, even their manager said we deserved something from it, I think that speaks volumes for the team today.”
McNally continued with a look to the future when he said: “We looked really good and I am hoping that if we can carry that on over the next eleven games it will give us half a chance.”