United show true keep Gate honest
IT WAS a true “game of two halves” on Saturday as Skelmersdale United fought back from a 3-0 half-time deficit to claim a 3-3 draw at home to Squires Gate.
A milestone 50th game in charge of United saw Paul McNally give first starts to Joe Herbert and Joshua-Klein Davies while Tom Croughan was handed a rare start while Khalil Osi-Efa returned to the starting lineup.
United started the brighter with Alex Griffiths’ looped cross finding the head of Tom Croughan who flicked the ball wide of the post. Gate responded with a flicked pass from Joshua Boyd finding the run of Gary Pett who hit narrowly over the bar from a tight angle. After an interception in midfield, Marvin Molyneux tried his luck from distance with an effort which went over the target.
Gate were given a great chance to open the scoring and took it on 19 minutes, Daniel Murphy fouling Dean Ing, signalled a free-kick on the edge of the area which Ryan Riley arrowed superbly into the top corner for 1-0.
The lead could have doubled rapidly as Riley’s cross found the head of Ing at the far post but he could only head wide of the target under pressure from Joe Herbert, another low cross from the Gate number 7 saw James Boyd slip a pass to Gary Pett back-heeled a shot which went achingly past the post.
Gate made it 2-0 on 27 minutes as clever skill from Riley on the wing saw him cut inside and cross but the clearance from Murphy fell to Joshua Pollard who picked out Boyd for a tap in past Barnes.
United responded with a Jack
Grimshaw pass finding Emini Adegbenro who advanced on goal and slotted an effort narrowly past the near post before a cross from Adegbenro found Grimshaw whose return cross evaded his teammates in a good position.
The missed chances proved costly for United though as Gate made it 3-0 on 35 minutes, Pollard’s shot from the edge of the area looked to be safely parried by Barnes but the ball came off his hands and looped over him into the empty net.
United two great chances to cut the deficit before half time as Murphy’s long aerial pass beat the Gate defence and allowed Tom Croughan to collect and advance on goal but he could only find the legs of ‘keeper Jordan Gidley with a shot before Joshua Klein-Davies drew a low save from Gidley from an angle.
Another close effort before the interval saw Khalil Osi-Efa send a shot achingly past the post with Gidley beaten and soon half time arrived with United needing a massive turnaround in the second half.
The second half opened with a long range Griffiths’ free-kick needing just a touch to cut the gap before the gap was cut in style on 52 minutes, Griffiths’ aerial clearance and Osi-Efa’s flick on bounced nicely for Croughan to collect and race towards goal and he squared for Adegbenro who slotted past Gidley for 3-1.
Klein-Davies flicked a shot past the post before he got his name on the score-sheet with some luck, a through pass from Osi-Efa saw the striker advance on goal unchallenged to slot past Gidley for 3-2 after the Gate defenders incorectly appealed for offside.
The comeback saw Gate respond with a pacy run and shot from Pollard going achingly past the post before United could have soon levelled, as a run and looping cross from substitute Regan Jarrett became a shot as Gidley tipped the ball away from the goal.
Pett tried his luck at the other end with a crossgoal effort that went past the far post before having been supplied by Ing, Pett looked to chip Barnes but could only miss the target. United’s epic comeback was completed on 80 minutes, Barnes’ long kick