Owens leaves on the best of terms

SKELMERSDALE United last week announced through their official club website that top scorer Andy Owens was to depart the club.

Owens, who only signed for the club in the summer after impressing in a trial game against Warrington Town, started his career at Liverpool before moving to Stoke City in 2007.

Connah’s Quay will be Owens’ 14th club in a career now spanning over a decade, but his short spell at Skelmersdale was the first time the target man had managed to reach double figures for a club in one season. His red-hot form, including a spell of nine goals in seven games, attracted the interest of Welsh Premier League side Connah’s Quay Nomads who snapped him up after a period of negotiations.

The Liverpool-born forward was a fan-favourite at Skem, and he became the first player since Daniel Mitchley to reach double figures for the club before the mid-point of the season. He leaves Skem just one point outside the relegation zone.

Manager Dave Powell admitted the forward would be missed, but challenged other players to come to the fore in his absence.

“He has been outstanding for us, a real leader within the team and he will be missed. At the same time, there is the opportunity for others to step forward and take the mantle.

“There is no axe to grind with Andy as he has been offered a long-term contract in the Welsh Premier League and at his age, such an opportunity cannot be turned down. He scored some vital goals for us and will always be welcome at the club.”

Owens himself spoke about his move, saying: “I was non-contract for one of the first times in my career at Skem and when you’re scoring goals and the team was going on a run it creates interest.

“I was enjoying my time here with Dave and I said that I would only go if the offer was right, but lots of different offers came in that I couldn’t turn down, a new challenge, a different league”. Skem welcome Tadcaster on Saturday.