Cup semi final proves a tie too far for United
Shehzad shines in Leigh loss
AMEMORABLE season for Skelmersdale United came to an end with defeat in the Macron Cup semi final.
A Mini Adegbenro shot from inside the box scurried past the far past post just as the referee blew for the final time on United’s epic 2021-22 campaign and Skem bowed out of the Macron Cup at the hands of a very good Charnock Richard side who had finished the season just a point behind Paul McNally’s team.
Skelmersdale manager
McNally was downbeat at the final whistle: “The season should have ended last week, when everyone was on a high, players and supporters alike, it’s a little flat after today, knowing that there is no game next week where we can put things right.”
It had all started off so well for McNally’s men as Mikey Howard swept home after a scramble in the box just 40 seconds into the game for his 33rd goal of the season.
It could have been more moments later, great work from James Salkeld found Adegbenro in the crowded goalmouth but his shot was cleared off the goal line as United threatened to run riot.
Skem were getting into threatening positions in the box but couldn’t find a way through the stubborn Charnock defence.
It took until the 30th minute for Ben Barnes the Skem goalkeeper to see any real action as he tipped away a smartly taken shot from Brad Carsley and when Carsley headed over a few minutes later you could sense the tide was turning against Skem.
The second half was only a few minutes old when Barnes came to the rescue clearing off the line from Nathan Nickeas as Charnock piled on the pressure, they got their just rewards on 66 minutes when Nickeas sent an unstoppable shot past the stranded Barnes to draw level.
Skem responded with a Sam Sheen effort that was tipped over by home goalkeeper Connor Eastham, the resulting corner saw an acrobatic shot from Tom Croughan fly just over the crossbar.
Charnock went in front on 81 minutes, after a sweeping counter attack, Howard’s shot was blocked and Charnock number four Ashley Young set Nickeas free his fine finish sending the “Greens” fans into raptures.
United were not done, as the Referee announced four minutes of injury time Kenny Strickland rattled the bar, Howard’s header went agonisingly wide and Mike Simpson had a shot blocked then the final effort of the season as no one could get on to the end of Adegbenro’s shot across goal.
It was a game too far for United, after last week’s heroics they wilted in the May heat, whilst Charnock – who had not played for 10 days – grew into the game and finished the stronger, apart from the final frantic four minutes.
United supporters will look back on a season of success for McNally and his team and there will no doubt be more to celebrate at the club’s end of season awards.
Eastham, Griffith, Haydock M., Young, Gibson, Haydock L., Regan, Fairhurst ©, Carsley, Nickeas, Bibby Subs Gooden, Hopper, O’Farrell, Woods
Barnes, Griffiths, Lees, Grogan, Herbert, Strickland, Salkeld, Sheen, Adegbenro, Simpson, Howard Subs Morris, Croughan, Preston
Joel Buckle
455
LEIGH’S county star, Mattie McKiernan, hit an unbeaten 91 to set up a total of 237/8 in a 121-run win over Ormskirk, for whom Afghan spinner Zahir Shehzad took 5/74. Patrick Allan’s 5/24 ensured the visitors didn’t get close, despite George Lavelle’s 55.
Wallasey are the only team in the Premier Division with a 100% record after their 67-run win at Rainhill.
Jamie Crawley (106) and Danny Beaver (100*) piled on 196, the highest opening stand in the division since 2011, to set up a total of 229/2; in reply, Ben Edmundson’s 59 offered the best hope of resistance, but Sumit Ruikar and Andy Beaver each helped themselves to five wickets to seal the win.
Afaq Ali Sartaj’s 6/34 set up Newton-leWillows’ six-wicket win at Formby, who could only muster 134; Lancashire’s Jack Morley finished unbeaten on 53 in the chase.
Orrell Red Triangle were frustrated by New Brighton’s last pair as the visitors closed on 190/9, 21 runs shy of victory; Orrell’s Mark Waddington had top-scored with 96.
Birkenhead Park enjoyed a six-wicket win over Northern.