Clitheroe 2-2 Skelmersdale United 28-04-2018

By Chris Musson

Changing of the guard

Simon Haworth’s enjoyable two-year managerial tenure came to a conclusion with an entertaining draw against Skelmersdale, which ended an eight-match losing streak.

The home team was down to the bones, but should have twice taken the lead within the first 15 minutes. On 11 minutes, Robbie Bromley dinked a great ball from the right to free Kurt Willoughby, whose shot was well saved by the keeper’s legs. Three minutes later, Ross Dent playing in an uncharacteristically forward role, clipped a bouncing through ball just over the bar. As if by way of penance, the visitors took the lead two minutes later, when a Skem striker tacked along the edge of the box and struck a firm shot beyond Chris Thompson.

Things got worse on 36 minutes when Joe Mitchell received a straight red for going head to head with an opponent. It was not the most heinous crime, but the referee had no choice but to dismiss him. Despite this, Dent brought the Blues back level on 39 minutes when he anticipated a woeful back pass, giving the keeper no chance. Skem were not done for the half and Thompson pulled off a trademark point blank save before the break.

Despite only having 10 men, Clitheroe seemed to play with more freedom and shaded proceedings. Willoughby had a shot saved on 47 minutes, but he turned provider on 57 minutes after whipping in a cross after chasing a lost cause, with Dent launching himself to head the ball home. Skem were not done and returning Blue, Scott Bakkor, enjoyed smiling broadly at the home fans who had taken a liking to giving him stick throughout the game, after he crashed home a screamer for the equaliser on 75 minutes.

The game petered out for an honourable draw, and it will be a new management team which will take the field when the next season starts in three months’ time.

Team : Chris Thompson, Jacob Gregory, Stephen Rigby, Danny Brady (c), Michael Samson, Joe Mitchell, Chris Churchman, Robbie Bromley, Kurt Willoughby, Ross Dent, Charlie Russell (Adam Bolton). Sub - Adam Bolton. Not used - Ian Rowlands.