United keep final in sights with St Luke’s Cup double
AFTER Wednesday’s 4-2 win at Runcorn Town, Skelmersdale United completed a home/away double with a 3-1 victory at the One Call Taxis Stadium@JMO.
Paul McNally named an almost unchanged line-up from the reverse meeting with the exception being the return from injury of ex-Town striker Emini Adegbenro in place of Jack Grimshaw who dropped to the bench.
United started the brighter of the two sides with Danny Mitchley sweeping a shot past the near post before firing past the far post a few minutea later. Town replied with Declan McGivern meeting an Ellis Jones cross to head past the post.
Kieran Holsgrove lofted a shot over the bar after a layoff from Kyle Smyth before Emini Adegbenro slotted past the far post afte connecting to a Callum Preston through pass.
United opened the scoring on 18 minutes as a lofted pass from Alex Davies put Adegbenro through on goal and he advanced to slot past Adam Reid for 1-0.
Mini could have doubled his and United’s tally on 27 minutes as he connected to Alex Griffiths’ low cross but saw a powerful show cannon back off the post.
Town replied with a great chance as Miklos Imre’s header from a corner saw Davies clear off the line.
However, Town soon went even closer as they levelled in style, a layoff from Tom Owen to Lewis Sinnott saw him rifle the ball into the top corner past the outstretched arm of Ben Barnes for 1-1.
Runcorn looked to go in front as a clever run and cut-in from Smyth saw him draw a strong stop from Barnes from close range but United regained the lead on 40 minutes, Preston collected an aerial pass from Griffiths to sashay through the defence before flicking the ball in off the post for 2-1.
Reid was tested twice more before the interval by a close range shot from Adegbenro before he dealt with a shot by Griffiths from distance. United almost made the perfect start to the second half as a stunning run from Preston saw him evade several challenges but saw the resulting shot cleared.
Alex O’Neill drew a fingertip save from Reid after being picked out by Mitchley who combined with Adegbenro minutes later who could only hit a low shot past the far post.
The duo linked up again with Adegbenro forcing a strong fingertip save from Reid. At the other end, Town went close to levelling with a headed effort narrowly over the bar before Grifiths swept a shot over the target from a tight angle.
As the game entered the final minutes, United had a great chance to wrap up the win, Harry Jones’ pass finding Adegbenro wide open and with only Reid to beat, he clipped the ball over the bar.
The goal to seal the win came with the last kick of the game, substitute Jack Grimshaw’s onetwo with Davies saw the defender cut in and slot past Reid for 3-1 with the final whistle sounding seconds later.
United celebrated and keep up their hopes of reaching the final where a win of two clear goals at Winsford next week coupled with bettering Sandbach’s result would see United and Winsford repeat the meeting in the St Luke’s Cup final the following week.