United start year with narrow defeat

Prescot Cables 2-1 Skelmersdale United

Skelmersdale United started 2023 with a narrow defeat at local rivals Prescot Cables, the game certainly warmed the 800 spectators on a cold January afternoon.

The home supporters were looking for a dominant win having beaten the blues early in the season, in a highly entertaining first half with both sides playing some good attractive football, it was United who had the better of the first half chances, Ste Milne going closest for the visitors that brought the best out of Cables keeper Mitch Allen, it was Allen who was the busiest of the two custodians making a number of telling saves but United could find no way through.

The Prescot management must have had words at half time as the home side came out stronger, a corner hit to the far post found No 9 John Murphy who headed home on 50 minutes. It was two on 75 minutes, this time from a free kick Murphy made his way to the near post and headed home his and Cables second.

United were not out of it and Allen again coming to the rescue of the home side, he could do nothing about an Elliott Morris finish on 80 minutes that reduced the arrears that set up a grandstand finish, Allen who was named man of the match kept out efforts by Milne, Morris and Hamilton but United could find no way through.

Richard Brodies said after the game “Their keeper was the difference today, we should have got something from the game but when the lad between the sticks plays like he did today you have to find a worldy to beat him. Today we didn’t find that. The lads played some great stuff out there and there are a lot of disappointed faces in the dressing room. We go again next week”

City of Liverpool will be the visitors next Saturday 7th January and a return to the club of former boss Paul McNally and a few ex blues in their line up

SKELMERSDALE UNITED, Ashton, Herbert, Lees, Gerrard, Grogan, Gallagher, Mcloughlin, Morris, Milne, Prescott, Turner. Subs: Djalo, Hamilton, Sheen. Unused: Devine, Bell

PRESCOT, Allen, Cannon, Edgar, Gregory, Shead, Devine, Goodwin, Foley, Murphy, Sambor, Hammill. Subs: Nugent, Owens, Glennon, Connelly