3 IMPORTANT POINTS FOR SKELMERSDALE

SKELMERSDALE UTD 2 V ILKESTON 1
EVOSTIK NPL PREMIER @ STORMY CORNER
12 NOVEMBER 2016 --- 3PM

This battle of the wrong end of the table turned into 3 points for Skelmersdale thanks to Max Hazeldine's tap in with the scores level at 1 apiece, but just as influential was the second half sending off for a second caution of Ilkeston's Mark Shelton.
The return of the rain after a few weeks away was making the decision of todays game a possibility of 3g calling, however with the north west looking to clear up first and a late Friday look at Skelmersdale it was off to the new town we would go.

OK THEN

Saturday was spent in the company of 'match off' notifications around the north west, including Atherton LR which we were to later pass, but thankfully Skelmersdale had updated their website to say 'game on'.  Departure to Manchester from base station was the usual all standing affair to Sheffield and then with seat secured at steel city it was time for others to become familiar with the same.  On arrival at Piccadilly we had a sharp walk over to Victoria and before setting off we had noticed a 15 minute delay on all services to Wigan via Atherton.  Sadly the ticket inspector from our friends at Northern Rail proved to be having a humourless day and held us up for a few more seconds than necessary.  Patience tested a busy Manchester city centre finally allowed us to make a 20 minute walk to Victoria for the 1210 to Wigan.  Herein started probably the most stressful journey of the season so far courtesy of Northern Rail, again, a few minutes late out of the station saw the train held up by the late running Blackpool train and then the all stopping train that should have been 4 minutes behind us was put in front and you guessed it before we entered every station there was a delay of 5 minutes.  The 40 minute journey took 1 hour and 5 minutes and by the time we arrived our preferred bus to 'Skem' was missed and we wandered over for the 1329 aquamarine service 395.

ILKESTON'S STEVE WELSH HAS A PRE MATCH CHAT WITH THE OFFICIALS

  This part of the journey went well and we departed in our destination today at just after 2pm.  It was a first time to Skelmersdale but sadly there was not time to look around this new town that catered for the overspill of people from Liverpool that has one of the largest collections of roundabouts in the country and whose town has no traffic lights.  The centre is very much a mini shopping precinct surrounded by park and walkways oh yes and the towns biggest employer The Coop.  There are very few footpaths by the roadside and a networks of pathways through the greenery take you to the nearby estates and our preferred point of Skelmersdale UTD FC today Selby Place.  Now in the utopia world of design these things are all very well with good sign posting but this seems missing as we sought out our destination without google maps it would have been a struggle today.  The ground is a fair old walk at around 35 minutes away to the north western edge of the town on an industrial estate that houses a large Asda distribution centre.  Having marched off to the ground we arrived about 2.45pm and upon entry purchased the programme before taking a few pictures and securing the team line ups.

PRE MATCH DUTIES FOR THE SKELMERSDALE LADIES

The ground is a quirky affair much like the town itself and its star attractions of to the right an elevated double Atcost type of stand with changing rooms to the rear behind this and to the corners is a grass banking.  The far end is grass banked with hard standing to the front and to the left of our entrance a nice uncovered terrace with you've guessed it a grass bank behind.  By the entrance is most of the supporters activity area with snack bar, hospitality in a lofted cabin, bar and function room, toilet block, nice little programme sellers area and the club shop which is a very small affair.  A good public address system kept the pre match proceedings going well.  Mick had gone off chatting to a few of the locals and a fair few Ilkeston supporters who had also made the trip up from Derbyshire.
For those of you wandering about the chip intake so it was non so far and would remain so today.

ITS BEHIND YOU

The match itself saw both these two teams in need of points the home side probably more so than the visitors at present.  But it was Ilkeston who started off brightly and were playing with a real pace and determination however you know what's coming.  Skelmersdale nearly opened the scoring on 11 minutes when Luke Wall off the left smashed an effort off the bar and amazingly it then flew off the post too but it was the same player whose corner off the right gave the home side the lead after 23 minutes when Michael Grogan headed home.

 
Ilkeston continued to push forward although Skelmersdale were looking threatening with Wall a constant danger.  The visitors did though equalise on 42 minutes when a right wing corner form Rory Coleman saw the ball loose in the box for Malachi Lavelle-Moore to fire home.
Just before half time we had a little chat with Skem player Jonah O Reilly, who is injured, and his dad and managed to get a quick picture of Molly and Kipper who were non too interested in the game but enjoying a day out in the fresh air all the same.

MOLLY AND KIPPER

Ilkeston started the second half strongly and looked to extend their lead however on 63 minutes Mark Shelton went down on the edge of the box when the goal was beckoning, referee Bannister flashed an immediate yellow card, his second, followed by a red.  The 'diving' decision seemed a funny one with the player more or less in on goal but only he will know.

The course of the game was changed with Skelmersdale now given the confidence to power forward and after a few scrapes they took the lead on 77 minutes when Chad Whyte squeezed a shot past Ross Durrant in the Ilkeston goal and with the ball about to be cleared on the line Hazeldine made sure to convert the ball and claim three oh so valuable points for Skelmersdale.

REFEREE BANNISTER FINDS A YELLOW

The final minutes were spent enjoying the ability of Luke Wall and some superbly crafted left foot crosses into the visitors penalty box.
Our return journey took us along the same route and the journey to The Concourse bus station saw us arrive with about 15 minutes leeway, time enough to take a quick look in the upper deck mall.  The place was already looking like its bus station fairly empty.  Although there is a leisure centre and library adjacent to the centre the whole project feels disassociated with the housing estates that expand beyond the green park areas that surround.  Indeed many local people believe the town was never properly finished its a shame there is no rail station something that has been looked into on more than one occasion apparently. 
I hope to re visit for a look around the town and it surrounds but I'am clearly going to have to book a little more time to do this as Skelmersdale, for me, is not an easy place to reach.
Our return journey saw us arrive at Wigan North Western for the 1829 train to Warrington Bank Quay were we walked across the town to Warrington Central for the 1919 direct back to base station arriving at just short of 9pm.  It was nice to get a brief look at Warrington a town that had only been previously viewed from the train and this offered us an alternative route back to the troubled Atherton corridor of earlier.
Quite a few people have mentioned they want to pop along to Skelmersdale and hopefully they will take the plunge I guess its easier to do in a car but as ever do not let the potential shortfalls of public transport put you off.  At times today its was a rush re arranging plans and it can spoil the day but I enjoyed the visit and an entertaining open game of football which is what its all about.

A BUSY EARLY EVENING SKELMERSDALE BUS STATION