Hurrah for Darr as loanee saves point
YOUNG Chorley loanee Jordan Darr wasted no time in making his mark with Skelmersdale United supporters.
Making his debut as a 71st minute substitute, his strike deep into added time gave Skelmersdale United a hard earned point on an icy cold day in East Lancashire.
Skelmersdale United manager Dave Powell made changes from the side that were defeated at Prescot on New Year’s Day, Bevan Burey wearing the number nine shirt that has been worn by Andy Owens all season, Tom Mitchell coming into defence and former Everton player Tom Molyneux in midfield.
Initially Skelmersdale struggled for continuity and arguably confidence after a bad run of results; they improved somewhat after the interval taking the game more to Ramsbottom, culminating in the injury time equaliser to bag a point.
Skelmersdale came closest to scoring in the first 20 minutes, Tom Molyneux breaking from midfield and thumping a shot in from 25 yards that home goalkeeper Charlie Albinson only dealt with at the second attempt, while the best Ramsbottom could generate from the majority of possession was an Alex Meaney shot that went high and wide.
On 20 minutes Skem goalkeeper Lee Callum Roberts made a save, needing to grasp the ball low down from a Jerome Wright free-kick as a posse of home forwards were set to pounce on any error.
Ramsbottom won three consecutive corners around 22 minutes, the third of which was headed down to Lee Gaskell whose overhead kick struck the Skem crossbar before Roberts snatched the loose ball.
Skelmersdale were now under strong pressure and did well to hang on, especially in the 24th minute when a surging run by home right-back Sam Heathcote resulted in a pass through to Gaskell who contrived to side-foot the ball wide with the goal almost at his mercy.
On 30 minutes Roberts saved at his near-post from Gaskell, then the number nine headed wide before Roberts showed a bit of ingenuity on 34 minutes.
Caught outside his penalty area by a quick break from Wright, Roberts dived in at the former FC United forward’s feet, saving with his knee, sensibly keeping his hands well away from the ball.
As the interval approached Skem seemed to have weathered the storm. How wrong can you be? With seconds remaining before the whistle Wright beat the Skem offside trap down the left, he pulled the ball back across the box and Gaskell flicked the ball past Roberts to make it 1-0 from about 15 yards.
After the restart Skelmersdale started to force Ramsbottom back more and although Skem weren’t creating much, significantly Ramsbottom weren’t creating much either.
Hence the first-quarter hour of the half wasn’t very thrilling at all.
On the hour Wright made an enterprising run from the right before unleashing a left-foot shot that went just past Roberts’ left-hand post.
Perhaps significantly, on 69 minutes home goalkeeper Albinson went for a bouncing ball with Alastair Redmayne and was then seen to be holding his hand, he then punched away a corner and was clearly in pain.
After a lengthy bit of treatment Albinson left the pitch to be replaced in goal by midfielder Dean Stott.
Ramsbottom went more defensive to protect Stott while Skelmersdale continue to push forward. Skelmersdale might have scored when Harry Blackburn found himself behind the home defence on 86 minutes but Stott dashed out to block his effort.
In the 93rd minute Skelmersdale won a corner on the right that was only partially cleared, Mike Roddy lobbed the ball back into goalmouth, Tom Mitchell headed it down and the ball went across the face of the goal to Darr who slammed it home from about three yards.
Ramsbottom had been the best in the first half, Skelmersdale in the second half.
The equaliser was a reward for Skelmersdale’s determination to stick in the game in the opening half, Skem lacked creativity but showed plenty of endeavour and carried on to the end.
After the match Powell said: “It wasn’t the best spectacle for the fans on a difficult pitch, but I am absolutely delighted the way the lads have responded from last week.
“Overall the lads deserved something from that game and hopefully we can kick on from here.”