United find winning touch against all odds
WHEN you haven’t won an away game since April and you have to send a team of youngsters on a long trip on a cold, wet horrible night to face a team who are known for their home form and the bookies don’t give a chance at all, what do you do?
You confound the lot and win 1-0, leaving even the home based media saying you deserved it.
This was how Skelmersdale United manager Alan Rogers celebrated his first victory.
Skelmersdale started the game well, their fast passing game catching the home team out and after just two minutes Nathan Randell brought a superb diving save out of home goalkeeper Aaron Taylor, sending the man in green low to his right.
Soon afterwards Randell put another effort wide, while Jack White put another effort on target.
Workington gradually got going and over the next quarter hour Skem goalkeeper Chris Cheetham made saves from Bob Wilson, Jake Simpson, Sam Joel and Jack Ryan, though none of them were desperate one’s.
In the 34th minute Skelmersdale counterattacked and the ball was fed to Steve Irwin down the inside-right channel, the experienced former Liverpool player fired a shot low across Taylor into the far corner to give Skem the lead in a game for the first time in Rogers reign as manager.
Skelmersdale held onto the lead well and by the interval the home support aimed plenty of displeasure at their players.
After the expected “motivational” talk by their manger during the interval Working came out all guns blazing but fired blanks as Skelmersdale snubbed out their early attacking intent.
The crucial moment came on 70 minutes.
Dave Symington was put away down the right with Jack White in pursuit, the Skem left-back attempted a tackle, caught Symington and a penalty was given.
Symington has scored two pens against Skem in the last two years and both have been driven into the middle of the goal, however, Cheetham stayed central and only moved when the ball was actually kicked, Symington forced to instantly change his plan hit the crossbar and Skelmersdale breathed again.
Cheetham was called into action twice more, saving at Symington’s feet on 75 minutes then just as the game was about to enter added time, he superbly dived to the feet of Scott Allison as the striker was poised to strike.
Deep into added time Skelmersdale broke away but Taylor went low to save from Jack Watts. It didn’t matter though, Skelmersdale deserved their hard earned victory even the local radio commentator agreed.