Victory on the road again

Newcastle Town 0-1 Skelmersdale United

Skelmersdale United produced another stunning away victory, their 5th in the last 6 games and are now unbeaten in 3 as they climb the Northern Premier League West table to 9th spot, just 2 points of 7th and more importantly putting a gap between themselves and those in the relegation spots.

It was never going to be a classic encounter, Newcastle are a renowned team of battlers, having been at the wrong end of the table over the past few seasons and with Skem becoming dogged and determined under the management of Richard Brodie on their travels. The game was very much bogged down in a midfield battle, both teams had chances, Sam Ashton coming to United’s rescue from Askey and opposite number Joe Slinn denying Ste Milne early doors.

However, from there the game devolved into a turgid, scrappy affair with neither side showing any fluency or ability to string passes together. Newcastle looked the more comfortable with the ball at their feet, but Skelmersdale looked dangerous on the break and often had the hosts scrambling, neither side could create a definitive goalscoring chance, with every attempt to get into the box intercepted or too easy for the goalkeepers and defences.

The bright spot for Skem came in the 50th minute, keeper Slinn inexplicably picked up from a back pass, Tom Freeman’s free kick found Callum Lees who rose above everybody else to head home.

United nearly doubled their lead moments later, an audacious shot from the half way line from Milne beat the keeper but the bounce took the ball just over the bar.

Newcastle came looking for an equaliser and right at the death the home side hit the post on 3 occasions from Morgan, Chimenes & Askey before Ashton claimed and secured another 3 points for Skem.

SKELMERSDALE UNITED: Ashton Hagan Freeman Jackson Lees Bell Morris Djalo Milne McLaughlin O’Brien. Subs: Gallagher Gerrard Crofton. Unused: Herbert Hamilton

NEWCASTLE TOWN: Slinn Derbyshire Stubbs Laan Askey Dennis Walsh Thompson Baxter Lloyd Morley. Subs: Russo Ritchie Lovatt Chimenes Conlon