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Home > 2007-08 Season > Match Reports > Skelmersdale (27.08.07)

MATCH REPORT

Bamber Bridge 0 Skelmersdale United 0

Northern Premier League 1st Division North

at Irongate

Monday 27th August 2007

By Dave Rowland

The goal-less score-line was a fair reflection of what was an evenly fought-out Lancashire derby dominated by two solid and uncompromising defences. There was plenty of determination and endeavour shown as both sides huffed and puffed but failed to take their chances. Brig worked hard against a very useful workman-like United side who contested every ball. The South Ribble side survived a first half penalty and a spirited second-half challenge by the visitors to take their hard earned point.

Brig were looking to maintain their unbeaten record after starting the season off with two away wins and a draw, whilst Skem manager Tommy Lawson was hoping that his charges would produce the type of fighting performance which had brought them all three points against League newcomers Garforth Town on Saturday. United had shown plenty of character in fighting back after going behind twice at home to the West Yorkshire side.

Phil Entwistle made just one change to the side which had done so well at Harrogate Railway Athletic over the weekend. Midfield maestro Danny Mahoney returned to the colours following a three match ban, replacing Lee Cooper in the number 8 shirt.

An evenly balanced start saw both sides probing for openings and it wasn’t long before Brig began to assert themselves but opportunities were at a premium. Indeed, it wasn’t until the 25th minute before the first noteworthy chance came along when Ryan Salmon just failed to get enough on his header following a good cross from the right by Adam Tong.

United were presented with a golden opportunity two minutes later when Glen Steel upended David Eaton in the penalty area. However, the chance was spurned as Craig Noone clipped the outside of Brig goalkeeper Terry McCormick’s left-hand post with the resultant spot-kick.

The home side responded well to this wake-up call and Danny Mahoney saw his drive blocked by United skipper Michael White on the half-hour mark following a perfect through ball by Allan Fleming. Then Skem had a let-off when goalkeeper Ryan McMahon failed to hold a Danny Mahoney cross but Shaun Foster was on hand to head the loose ball behind and to safety.

Although coming under mounting pressure, the visitors defended with resolution and as Brig stepped up a gear no-nonsense defending by White, Steven Akrigg and Michael Duffy kept the Brig front runners comfortably at bay.

An Alex Porter thunderbolt zipped narrowly over the Skem crossbar after 42 minutes following a Brown corner-kick which had only been partially cleared.

The visitors continued to look dangerous on the break and the Brig back-line had to work overtime in checking strong penetrating runs by Eaton and the tireless Noone.

Porter was denied access to goal as the half-time whistle approached and his inventive free-kick was bravely repulsed by alert central defender Akrigg.

The second period promised to be as absorbing as the first and both sides went desperately close to a goal within minutes of the restart. Salmon almost broke the deadlock on 47 minutes when he struck the goalpost with a rasping drive following a neat cross from the right by O’Neil. The visitors responded immediately and Noone came very close with a shot which grazed the Brig crossbar.

United were beginning to come out of their shell with some intelligent football but the home side stood their ground. With a slight breeze both sides tended either to over-hit their passes, or, be drawn into playing the long ball game. Nonetheless, the game remained an absorbing and entertaining derby for an appreciative Bank Holiday crowd.

For a time the game seemed to be drifting away form Bamber Bridge as their opponents began to grow in confidence. Indeed, it was the home side’s turn to dig in. United went close twice, first in the 54th minute when Akrigg came near with a header from a Noone corner and again shortly afterwards when Steel robbed Eaton on the edge of the box as the tall United striker squared up to shoot following another defence splitting cross by workaholic Noone.

Steel was to turn villain in the 70th minute when he spurned Brig’s best chance of the afternoon. A neat interchange of passes between himself and O’Neil cut a huge gap in the visitors rearguard and when O’Neil put over a perfect cross, the unmarked Steel inexplicably headed over an empty net with goalkeeper McMahon totally exposed.

At the other end, former Skem custodian Terry McCormick kept his former team mates at bay with a superb diving save to deny Tony Evans, who had powered in a fine effort from the right of goal on 75 minutes.

The game continued to swing one way and then the other, but neither side could make the crucial breakthrough. Late Brig substitutes Tom Ince and Guy Heywood combined in a late flurry that almost succeeded for the home team, but Foster stepped in to block Heywood’s effort which was the last chance of the game.

Bamber Bridge: McCormick, Dashti (M Mahoney 64mins), McMenemy, Fleming, Tong, Steel, Brown (Ince 84mins), D Mahoney, O’Neil (Heywood 77mins), Salmon, Porter

Goals: -

Attendance: 185