Skem blast home famous 5

ASTUNNING 5-0 victory on the road for Skelmersdale United as they swept past high-flying Winsford United at Barton Stadium. Paul McNally handed a debut to Daniel Murphy while Marvin Molyneux and Alex Griffiths returned to the starting line-up and newly signed Josh Klein-Davies was named on the bench. An early warning for Skem came after just two minutes as Samuel Marshall’s low cross found Brian Matthews who slotted past Ben Barnes but the effort was chalked off due to offside. Nathan Cotterill swept a free-kick over the bar for the hosts before Marshall’s dangerous cross evaded all comers just inches from the goal-line. Winsford were left to rue their missed chances as Skem took the lead against the run of play on 20 minutes, a back-pass from Brendan O’Brien saw Richard Brodie collect and advance on goal, evading the challenge of Michael Langley to slot into an empty net for 1-0.

The hosts could have levelled within a minute as a through ball put Matthews in on goal who could only hit at Barnes from close range and he should have tested Barnes again minutes later as Obi Anoruo’s cross found Matthews who hit achingly past the post.

Matthews rounded off a trilogy of chances as he headed against the bar with Barnes beaten and again Winsford’s missed opportunities cost them as Skem doubled the lead on 32 minutes.

A looping pass from Alex Griffiths found the run of Emini Adegbenro who raced towards goal and drew a save from Langley; the rebound fell to Brodie who saw his shot cannon off the bar into the path of Adegbenro who slotted in for 2-0.

Winsford’s response saw Anoruo force an acrobatic save from Barnes with a powerful shot from point-blank range in the final chance of the first half.

The first chance of the second half saw Adeg