Battling Skem hit by late cruel twist
FOOTBALL can be a cruel game at times. With most pundits predicting a hammering, you take on the team who are third in the league table, at times you scare the life out of them, make an error for one of their goals and finally lose out to a penalty, this after equalising twice and earlier having a strong case to complain that the opposition’s centre-forward shouldn’t even be on the field at all after a dreadful challenge.
Skelmersdale United manager Alan Rogers had every right to feel hard done by after the match, but he had every reason to be proud of his young team too.
In the seventh minute Nantwich had Skem on the back foot, Sean Cooke fired a shot inches wide of the far post and from the resulting corner Joel Stair headed just over the crossbar.
By the 15th minute the picture was changed somewhat as it became obvious that Nantwich were going to be susceptible to Skelmersdale’s mobility, quick passing and pace. A theory that was confirmed to all when Remy Howarth dribbled past three players in the middle of the field and released Dean Shacklock for a shot that was finger-tipped away by Town goalkeeper Daniel Gyollai.
In the 18th minute came the controversy.
Nantwich number nine Ryan Brooke was put through the Skem defence, but he took a heavy touch on the ball and it was grasped on the ground by Skelmersdale goalkeeper Chris Cheetham, Brooke followed up with a raised boot in a very late challenge that struck Cheetham on head.
During a long delay while Physio Heather Vearncombe carried out concussion tests on Cheetham, referee Darren Rogers only issued a yellow card to Brooke.
Seven minutes later to emphasise the significance of the referee’s decision, Brooke was again put through the Skem defence only this time he slotted the ball into the net to make it 1-0 to Nantwich.
It took Skelmersdale just ten minutes to draw level.
Shacklock took possession of the ball just inside his own half and advanced across the halfway line before sending a right-foot 30 yard ball over the visiting defence to an on-the-run Phil Mooney, he held off a defender, created an angle and fired past an off his line Gyollai into the net.
Before the interval both teams went near, Skelmersdale via Howarth and Town via number eleven John Johnston.
Nantwich were quick out of the blocks in the second-half and restored their lead inside three minutes, however, it was not really a creative move that brought the goal about, goalkeeper Chris Cheetham chested down a back pass and the ball ran to Steve Jones who made no mistake in blasting the ball home.
Around the hour mark Skelmersdale got their passing game going again and Shacklock was again thwarted by Gyollai.
On 71 minutes Max Allen went close for Skem and a minute after that Shacklock was again kept out by Gyollai but this time at the cost of a corner on the left.
The corner kick was knocked down; Callum Grogan reacted quickly and scored his first goal for the club from about three yards.
Nantwich this time took just two minutes to regain their lead. Brooke ran onto a ball into the Skem penalty area and Cheetham dived at his feet, Brooke went down and a penalty was given. Up stepped Cooke to make it 3-2 to Nantwich.
With 15 minutes to go fighting back a third time was a goal too far. This time Nantwich knew they couldn’t let Skem back and they defended deeply.
Skem had worked extra hard during the game and arguably it caught up with them late on, the finesse that had hallmarked their earlier play was not as abundant and they simply couldn’t get a third goal.
Even considering they won at Workington last week, this was probably Skem’s best performance under Alan Rogers, but he must be frustrated.
In his post match interview he said: “We are playing some stunning football and I won’t change the philosophy, but we need to cut down on the errors.”