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Home > 2009-10 Season > Match Reports > Skelmersdale United (08.09.09)

MATCH REPORT

Bamber Bridge 0 Skelmersdale United 1

Northern Premier League 1st Division North

at QED Stadium, Irongate

Tuesday 18th September 2009

By Dave Rowland

Bamber Bridge fell at the first hurdle in this season’s League President’s Cup competition when bowing out to a very efficient and workmanlike Skelmersdale United side by the narrowest of margins. A goal two minutes before the break saw the visitors through to the Second Round after inching proceedings in the first 45 minutes. However, they were made to work hard in the second period against a Brig side full of inventiveness and endeavour but lacking in fire power.

With the ten-nil hiding in last season’s League Challenge Cup Third Round tie at Stormy Corner still fresh in the minds of many Brig supporters, the South Ribble side were keen to make amends with a win over their county rivals Skelmersdale United in the League President‘s Cup competition. They were also determined to get back on track following the set-back at Shaw View at the weekend. ‘Skem’ arrived at Irongate on a high following their 4-3 home win over Yorkshiremen Harrogate Railway Athletic in the league on Saturday.

Brig manager, Tony Greenwood made four changes to his starting line-up from the game at Trafford three days previously. New signing, Mathew Bell, came into the defence to make his debut, with James Heywood making way. Likewise, making his club bow, was Tom Williams who was drafted into midfield replacing Ryan-Zico Black. Craig Sargeson came into the front-line in place of injured leading marksman Phil Eastwood and Lee Pryers returned to the fray instead of Chris Marlow. Black, Heywood and Marlow were named amongst the substitutes along with Mitchell Bailey who was retuning from injury.

Brig kicked off on a dank and misreble evening but soon came under early pressure when Kevin Towey set up Paul Lundon with a flick-on, but Lundon’s snap-shot from six yards was blocked by a home defender. ‘Skem’ impressed in the opening phase of the game with their usual brand of crisp-passing football as they manoeuvred around briskly looking for openings.

Bamber Bridge responded as they settled into a more comfortable pattern of play and threatened menacingly on 10 minutes when Mathew Bell split the visitors defence with an astute pass, finding Sargeson in space on the right. Sean O’Neil met the resultant cross, but his effort lacked power and ‘Skelm’ goalkeeper Ryan McMahon gathered with ease.

Brig came close again on 23 minutes when Tom Williams shot narrowly over the crossbar from distance after latching on to a sweeping cross from the left.

‘Skem’ continued to push the ball about with authority and looked distinctly dangerous as they carved out a few half-chances. Their endeavours almost paid dividends on the half-hour mark when early substitute Kevin Leadbetter volleyed narrowly wide following some good work by the industrious Ben Parsonage down the right.

However, O’Neil had the ball in the net for Brig a minute later following some excellent work by Martin Moran, but the effort was ruled out for off-side.

Former Brig man Martin Crowder put in Leadbetter on 36 minutes with a neat through-ball, but the former Southport man fired just beyond the far post with Brig goalkeeper Mike Hale left stranded. Crowder then went close himself with a header from a Leadbetter cross, but Hale was alert to the danger and saved well at the back post.

Just before half-time on 43 minutes ‘Skem’ went in front, with what ultimately proved to be the decider, when PAUL LUNDON fired home from close in after a fine run and cross from deep on the right by Mark Houghton.

Brig stepped up a gear and went on the offensive straight after the break. Sargeson set up Chris Marlow after a tidy bit of footwork, but the young wingman lost his footing as he bore down on goal and the chance was gone.

The home side were now setting the agenda with some fluent football and for a time the visitors were having to play second fiddle.

However, Leadbetter was desperately unfortunate for ‘Skem’ when Hale tipped his drive onto the crossbar after an intricate link-up with Lundon on the left which caused the Brig defence all kinds of problems. Seconds later a similar manoeuvre by the pair unbelievably met with the same fate.

Bamber Bridge continued to push forward at every given opportunity as they desperately sought to find a way through and came close to parity on 65 minutes when an excellent Marlow cross from the left was driven just over the crossbar from the edge of the box by the inrushing Sargeson.

A long accurate cross-field ball out of defence by ‘Skem’ centre-back Michael White unlocked the home defence on 70 minutes, but Leadbetter shot across the face of goal and inches past the far post.

Brig nearly forced extra-time with two efforts late on, when first, Ryan-Zico Black worked his way through a ruck of defenders after a telling pass by Ashley Dunn but fired over. Then on 88 minutes a Sargeson effort flew inches past the goalpost following another good ball from Dunn.

Bamber Bridge: Mike Hale, Mathew Bell, Martin Moran, Colin McAllister, Phil Robinson (Chris Marlow 45mins), Ashley Dunn, Tom Williams (Mitchell Bailey 56mins), Neil Reynolds, Sean O’Neil (Ryan-Zico Black 66mins), Craig Sargeson, Lee Pryers. unused sub: James Heywood

Goals: -

Skelmersdale United: Ryan McMahon, Kyle Armstrong, Martin Crowder, Michael Burke, Michael White, Dale Sealey, Ben Parsonage, Steve Morrison, Mark Houghton (Chris Almond 82mins), Kevin Towey (Kevin Leadbetter 23mins), Paul Lundon (Steve Burke 63mins). Unused subs: Aaron Turner, Alan Fitzpatrick

Goals: Paul Lundon (43 mins)

Attendance: 113