McNally: It’s out of our hands now
SKELMERSDALE United manager Paul McNally admits he does not expect his side to make the North West Counties Premier Division playoffs with Wythenshawe expected claim second place.
McNally told Skelmersdale United’s website how he feels the season has gone at the JMO Sports Park and how he sees the future.
The season has in the main has gone very well for Skelmersdale and might still end in promotion.
After taking a little while to find their feet they went on an unbeaten run that lifted them for a short time to the top of the North West Counties Premier Division table and threatened to overcome the giant at the top of the table in the form of a reformed and very well resourced Macclesfield who perhaps unsurprisingly have gone on to clinch the title.
Although Skem have fallen back a bit since February, Saturday could still see them achieve a valuable runners up spot that would open the doors to a playoff position for that remaining promotion place.
Skelmersdale play their final home league game when they entertain Liverpool based side Lower Breck at the JMO Sports Park this weekend.
Second position is between themselves and Wythenshawe Town who at the same time will be at home to Squires Gate.
It will be one of those afternoons when many Skem supporters will have mobile phones in their hands keeping one eye on the score at Wythenshawe while watching Skem.
The actual margin required by Skem depends on the outcome of Wythenshawe’s midweek game against Northwich Victoria.
It could be both a memorable and exciting afternoon and might come down to goal difference or even goals scored over the season.
McNally believes Skelmersdale have exceeded expectations this season and says: “I think we were expected to finish in the top ten.”
He goes to say in the interview that he still doesn’t really fancy Skem’s chances: “I don’t think we will get a play-off to be honest. It’s in the hands of Wythenshawe now.
“If it’s not to be, we’ve still had a fantastic season.”
Saturday could be a great occasion though and McNally hasn’t thrown his towel in yet.
“I am just hoping that it does change and we can turn a corner,” he said.
The pressure is certainly on Wythenshawe – they are expected to win.
From a Skelmersdale perspective they will be strong favourites to beat Lower Breck and may need to beat them by a few goals and will have an ear to the scores from Manchester.
In the interview McNally sums up the season well: “We’ve put ourselves back on the map and we’re already stronger for it, we’ll be even stronger next season.”
The public of Skelmersdale have certainly responded to Skem’s achievements this season and attendances are actually bigger than they were eight or nine years ago in the Northern Premier League days at Stormy Corner.
The security this gives the club will hopefully allow them to invest a bit more in the team next season and build on this season.
It does unfortunately look like Skem will have a big fish club in opposition again next season in the form of a refloated Bury, but having pushed Macclesfield so close this season that probably won’t worry them too much.
Who knows though, if Saturday goes well that might not matter.
Saturday is only the end of league action for Skelmersdale, next Tuesday 5th April they are away to AFC Blackpool in the Macron Cup 2nd Round (North West Counties League Cup), victory will lead on the further games throughout April, and they must be one of the favourites for the competition.
Saturday sees Burscough’s season end – they are already out of the Macron Cup – it finishes with a derby away to Charnock Richard and it might have a big twist because if Wythenshawe and Skelmersdale lost their last games, Charnock Richard could still technically crash the play-off party, it is extremely unlikely but not impossible and this is football after all.
It will have a good season for the resurgent Linnets and they have a solid basis to build on for next season.