Aggro from Avro as Skem frustrated by loss of lead
SKELMERSDALE United let a 2-1 lead slip in the last 15 minutes when they made a Friday night trip to Chadderton where they played newly promoted Avro.
After going behind to a fifth minute goal, Paul McNally’s team fought back and deservedly went 2-1 up in the 57th minute before falling back onto the defensive they conceded on 75 and 80 minutes but couldn’t recover again.
The game kicked off in torrential rain and arguably was only played because Avro play on an artificial surface, the hosts took full advantage and went straight onto the attack.
Early on Skelmersdale goalkeeper Ben Barnes made a good near-post save but only five minutes had elapsed when Avro were rewarded for their opening enterprise.
Barnes dived to his right to parry a shot from Danny Parkinson, however the ball fell to Joe Bevan who instead of expectedly shooting, squared the ball into the goalmouth where Louis Potts was able to steer the ball home from around six feet.
Avro continued to press for a second goal but gradually Skelmersdale came more into the game and the only serious worry of a second goal was when the lively Potts was thwarted by a diving save to his right by Barnes.
Recent signing Peter Moore looks a handy acquisition by Skem and he was beginning to cause Avro plenty of problems as United, playing in red, started to push for an equaliser.
Emini Adegbenro put in a shot from 18 yards that Avro goalkeeper Jordan Latham pushed away but Moore couldn’t keep the rebound under the crossbar. In the 42nd minute Skelmersdale equalised, Charlie Kelly controlled a through ball around 25 yards from goal and turned, with his leftfoot he unleashed a terrific dipping shot that went into the top corner of Latham’s goal leaving the keeper a flatfooted spectator. After the interval Avro went on the attack again and apart from a header by Potts that went wide of the post, Skem held out well. In the 57th minute Skelmersdale took the lead and it was a goal right out of the top drawer, receiving the ball just outside the penalty area on the left, Moore looked up and saw a gap to keeper Latham’s left, he curled beautifully shot for the gap and for the second time that night the Avro keeper was left admiring a Skelmersdale shot as it went past him into the net.
Skelmersdale pushed on for a third and if it had come it would likely have been a different story, Moore crossed and Adegbenro headed wide from a great position and a Kelly free-kick went just wide but the third goal wasn’t to be.
Confidence isn’t at its best at Skelmersdale at the moment and eventually they were pushed back onto the defensive to hold on to their three points, fatally it gave Avro the invitation they needed on 75 minutes.
A Skelmersdale defender lost the ball about 30 yards from goal and the ball ran to Potts, he looked up and sent a right foot shot skimming into the far corner of the Skem net from 20 yards to make it 2-2.
Skelmersdale almost restored their lead but a Marvin Molyneux header went agonisingly wide of the far post but at the other end Avro looked dangerous especially when Barnes smuggled a header wide of the foot of his post.
The pressure built up and Potts headed just wide before he was at the heart of a slick passing build-up on 80 minutes, the ball was eventually delivered into the six yard box where Harry Odell ran in and stabbed the ball into the net.
Skelmersdale went on the attack but it was too late and the best they could muster was a shot that went inches wide of the post with keeper Latham looking beaten, it was Avro’s turn to hold on to their lead and they did.
On balance of play Skelmersdale could feel hard done by to travel home empty handed but the performance was an improvement.
AVRO: Latham J., Parkinson, Poxon, Samms, Lacey, Bevan, Jacobs ©, Potts, Odell, Grimshaw D. Subs Howell, Wright, Latham A., Pollard, Sagar
SKELMERSDALE UNITED: Barnes, Glennon, Griffiths, Molyneux, Keatley, Tyrer ©, Coughlin, Grimshaw J., Adegbenro, Moore, Kelly Subs Djabi, Grimshaw T., Douglas, Croughan, Brodie
Attendance: 110