‘Standbangers’ back team in numbers as United prevail in league clash
A GREAT crowd of 272 at JMO Sports Park saw Skelmersdale United come from behind to win the ‘M58 Derby’ with a 2-1 success over high-flying Bootle.
Paul McNally handed instant debuts to Ben Hampson and Michael Grogan who began his third United spell, while Gabriel Ellis was promoted from the bench.
The visitors started the brighter with ex-United forward Ben Hodkinson’s teasing cross needing just a touch from Carl Peers at the far post to open the scoring with the ball evading him.
Peers tried his luck with an agles effort minutes later which travelled past the far post at pace before Daniel Brady’s curling shot from distance found the grasp of Ben Barnes. At the other end, Callum Preston headed narrowly over from a corner before a pacy run from Hodkinson saw him cross low to the far post with Barnes denying Rob Doran from having a chance to connect.
Bootle continued to threaten with Steven Jones picking out the run of Hodkinson who in connecting chipped the ball over Barnes and the bar. A wayward shot from Doran minutes later looped wide of the target and Johnny Foy sent an effort narrowly over the woodwork.
The pressure from the visitors paid off with some luck as Michael Grogan and Jack Grimshaw misjudged the bounce of the ball allowing Peers to intercept and pick his spot before rifling the ball past Barnes to make it 1-0 on 35 minutes.
Bootle could have doubled their lead before the interval as Connor Millington’s free-kick was flicked on by Hodkinson forcing a superb save from Barnes – and in the resulting scramble, Doran hit over the bar while sliding.
Doran went closer minutes later with a curling shot which Barnes tipped away.
The final chance of the half saw Hodkinson squaring for Steven Jones who drew a point-blank save from Barnes as the visitors entered the interval ahead.
Bootle, like the first half, started the second half brighter with Jones sweeping a shot past the post early on. United responded with a pacy run from Gabriel Ellis finding the path of Preston resulting in an angled shot which travelled over the bar.
At the other end, a run and cross from Peers saw a diving parry from Barnes with the rebound cleared by the home defence.Two dangerous crosses from Jason Carey drew saw the defence return the first to him with the second claimed by Ryan Jones as he denied Tom Croughan from connecting.
A long throw from Alex Griffiths bounced kindly for Ben Hampson who forced a strong stop from Jones with Croughan’s rebound superbly cleared off the line by Millington.
Bootle’s earlier pressure resumed with a trio of chances which saw Loughlin and Hodkinson miss the target before Carberry’s sliding shot was headed over by the United defence.
United brought on Richard Brodie to boost the attack and came close to an instant impact as he forced a diving stop from Jones after collecting Croughan’s pass.
United’s changes did lead to success in the 70th minute as substitute Luke Holden-Moakes’ corner found Brodie who in flicking across goal forced Steven
Jones into a mistake. That forced Millington to clear off the line into the path of captain Jordan Tyrer, who headed in for 1-1.
Bootle could have regained the lead within a minute as Carberry’s low cross needed just a touch from Jones to beat Barnes, but the ball continued past the post.
The miss was to prove costly as United completed the turnaround on 73 minutes, a stunning crossfield pass from Holden-Moakes bouncing perfectly for Carey who advanced on goal and fired past Jones to put the Blues 2-1 ahead. Two minutes later, United’s joy suffered a blow as a Jones’ cross to the far post saw Peers and Barnes both go for the ball with the two colliding and the referee pointing to the spot.
Peers stepped up and saw his penalty saved superbly by Barnes who protected the lead.
United looked to extend their lead with Croughan drawing a save from Jones before HoldenMoakes’ wind-assisted shot sailed over the bar. As the clock ticked into added time, Bootle had a great chance to level as a Carberry cross found substitute John Connelly who headed over the bar just a yard from thegoalline.
The final whistle minutes later confirmed a much-needed return to winning ways for United which saw the players and management go over to celebrate with the ‘Skem Standbangers’ in the far corner who had been in great volume all afternoon.
Barnes, Hampson Preston, Grogan (Osi-Efa 81), Staunton, Tyrer (c), Griffiths J.Grimshaw (Holden-Moakes 52), Carey, Croughan, Ellis (Brodie 67). Subs not used – T. Grimshaw, Adegbenro.
R.Jones, Millington, Carberry, Brady, Cartwright, Foy, Doran (Connelly 63), Loughlin (c), S.Jones, Peers, Hodkinson. Subs not used – Williams, McGovern, Hooper, Hughes.
Abid Hussain 272