Lost on Points!

Stormy Corner is a cold place to visit at this time of year,the home of Skelmersdale United is a barren place tucked away on an industrial estate. The ground is featureless with little character although the local support is full of character and encouragement for a team that as only been beaten twice in the league and flying in cup competitions. This would be a tough one for Boro even with the excellent win in midweek to boost the team. The pitch is dry as a bone and heavily sanded with a strong wind whipping across the ground. The game sets off on a good pace and both sides look straight away to keep the ball moving to feet. Boro in a changed kit of Black & Red see Adam Roscoe early and float a ball to him he tries to play in Oates but cant get enough on the head. United move the ball well and Sampson will need to be alert as the hosts look to play around him and behind. It is Sampson who is in the right place on 10 minutes when after a corner the ball lands in front of Michael White who strikes a good shot but cant beat the full back on the line. Griff Jones and Roscoe are looking to keep the centre halves on their toes and Roscoe with little options after winning the ball chooses to shoot and does bring out a tidy stop by the keeper low to his left. Boro look bright and will make a match of it. The home defence is indecisive when Boro break forward and find Griff Jones on the edge , no challenge comes in and he fires a strong lofted shot beyond the keeper to secure a fine start for Boro, 1-0! 15 minutes gone and we now have a contest. Unsworth is strong in his own box to see off the ball for a corner with Houghton bearing down. The corner is delivered and dealt with by Roscoe defending well and shows great determination to be at the edge of the home sides box within the minute , Sampson sends in a good ball that Griff Jones feeds in for Oates who is free on 8 yards but fires wide. The boro defence have to be sharp as Sean McConville & Georgie Donnelly link very well in midfield and bring in players around them with good slick passing. Kelly and Unsworth defend well to keep them at bay. McConville is soon at it again as he goes on a great run that beats 3 players in the heart of the boro defence , his shot was tame and wide but the threat is clear. He again finds the loose ball and this time with defenders retreating fires in , Priestley is comfortable in holding. Action at both ends this time at the United last third, Oates beats his man after good work by Sampson but the keeper as his shot tamed quickly. Boro come again and Dawson with a trademark header sees it go narrowly wide. A one bounce goal kick fro Priestley nearly embarrasses McMahon who is happy to see it land just on top of the net. McConville is in the mix again and is subject to a fantastic tackle by Sampson just before he pulled the trigger. Griff Jones wins the ball well with his back to goal turns and fires in a rising shot that as the keeper watching it very closely. Aaron Turner sets off on a superb run as he faces more defenders he plays a pinpoint pass to Georgie Donnelly who beats his man to send the ball safely into the bottom left corner of the net for the equalizer with 32 gone. A good open half is being watched by a lively crowd of just under 300, they witness a fantastic block by Foster after good Radcliffe football Jones and Sampson work the ball out wide and as the cross skims the head of Roscoe, Oates shoots. Crowder is the next to line up and send a shot just wide of the Boro goal. To the other end, Roscoe with a hopeful ball across the 18 yard line, the keeper slips in the sand and with Jones bearing down he some how recovers to smother. Donnelly and Crowder combine with the latter firing too high. After a good push forward the home side win a corner and when Steven Akrigg powers his header goal bound Priestley pulls off a wonder save to ensure the game is level at the break. Roscoe goes into the book for a trailing foot that caught the defender, a bit harsh as the tackle was not with any malice.Tom Brookes replaces Mark Drew at the interval. Skem make the first move with Turner on another run as he runs out of space he is beat in the challenge by Unsworth who can only guide it into the path of Adam Birchall who thumps a placed shot cleanly into the net for 2-1, a little relief ripples the crowd. Boro continue to play good approach football but united are getting stronger. Both sides are now competing for every ball with the ref slightly over zealous in giving free kicks. Boro are defending well and need to as Skelmersdale up the standard of play. Morrison replaces Turner on 67 minutes. With 15 minutes to go Boro find their feet again and create some chances through Roscoe and Jones. Owen Roberts sends in a good cross that Roscoe holds after controlling on his chest he is clearly pushed but the ref decides no penalty. Boro try again. The visitors have to be careful as United break quickly and can be in a scoring position within a few passes. Oates is replaced by Howson with ten to go and within seconds is on the end of a fantastic chipped pass by Brooks he sets to shoot but fires over while offside. Towey replaces Hoghton on 83 as the home side remain a danger even with Boro trying their best to snatch an equaliser. They have two gilt edge chances within 3 minutes , the first a free kick by Roberts on the left flys passed everyone and the post by inches. The second after a good move as Howson clear but he cant convert. Boro deserved a point in what would have been a fair result . Skelmersdale had been taken by surprise by a team that are far better than the league slot suggests. Skelmersdale will be one of the favourites for promotion and they deserve to be they are a tidy side. A lot of hard work by all the boro players will pay off, they look sharper and more determined, the results will come. The next trip is to the seaside to the home of Fleetwood, Wednesday night , yes it will be cold, but it is character building!

see you there , if not see you at the supporters club meet on Thursday, Boro club.

Paul.