Premier Division

Skegness Town  1    Skegness United  2

THERE was extra spice added to this local derby with both sides unbeaten and sitting pretty at the top of the table.

But it was United who edged it to take the three points thanks to a first half Jordan Walden penalty.

As expected, there was ten minutes of full bloodied tackles from the first whistle.  United dominated the early possession, but they were silenced in the 15^th minute when a misplaced pass across their penalty area found Troy Lonslow, who calmly slotted the ball passed Ben Martin in the visiting goal.

United were rocked by the setback, but got themselves back on level terms when Ryan O’Loughlin fired a free kick into the top corner after 35 minutes.

There was further heartache for the Lilywhites just before the break when skipper Damian Howland tripped Luke Rayner-Mistry in the box. Keeper Shaun Robinson got his hand to Jordan Walden’s spot kick, but couldn’t prevent it nestling in the bottom corner.

Kurt Crossley, who before the game was presented with last season’s Golden Boot Award for finishing top scorer, had a goal disallowed for offside during a period of United pressure.

But it was Town who finished the stronger. United struggled to deal with the pace of Daniel Reid, who created a number of chances for teammates. Martin’s goal was peppered to the end, but the home failed to rescue the point their late show deserved.

Courtney Skeldon was inches away from an equaliser, but the keeper held the ball on the line and another Town effort was cleared off the line in the dying minutes.

Skegness Town: Robinson, Howland, Akers, Parish, Gowshall, Davison, Courtney, Hardy, Papworth, Lonslow, Reid, Skeldon, C Nicholls, Mansell, Clarke, Parnham.

(Nigel West)

A good sized crowd had assembled prior to kick off knowing the victors would be at the top of the table at the end of the evening.

United had Arron Scutt,  Ben Martin, Sean Chamberlain and Adam Cowdell back in the starting line up.

United started on the front foot and took the game to Town. However, it was Town who opened the scoring on 15 minutes when Jordan Walden missed a pass by Rayner –Mistry and Troy Lonslow was given a free run on goal to score pass Martin. United fought back straight away and Ryan O’Loughlin struck a left foot shot against the bar which left Robinson in the home goal stranded  On  35 minutes United were on level terms when Ryan O’Loughlin was fouled on the edge of the area and picked himself up and  struck the resulting free kick into the top corner of Robinson’s net.

United continued to press and minutes before half time took the lead. Fine passing movement involving Chamberlain, Scutt, Crossley and Rayner –Mistry led to the latter being fouled in the box by Howland. Jordan Walden dispatched the resulting penalty pass Robinson. United went in a half-time with a deserved lead and on their first half displayed could have been more.

United started the second half as they finished the first, and were unlucky not to increase their lead when Kyle McGuigan hit a rocket of a shot from 30 yards against the bar and the follow up by O’Loughlin was well saved by Robinson.  Minutes later Kurt Crossley had a goal disallowed for offside which appeared to be a close decision.

With 15 minutes to go United appeared to lose their way and Town came more into the game and using Dan Reid on the right in most of their attacks. Town came close on two occasions to level the score when Ben Drysdale cleared of the line from Courtney Skeldon and Ben Martin saved on the goal line.

When the final whistle went United had secured the three points and on the overall play deserved the victory.

TEAM: Ben Martin, David Muirhead, Ben Drysdale, Jordan Walden, Adam Cowdell, Sean Chamberlain, Arron Scutt, Kyle McGuigan ( Michael Howard ), Luke Rayner-Mistry, Ryan O’Loughlin and Kurt Crossley.

Unused Subs: Herbie Nicholls, Sam Sleight, Sam Walker and Jobe Stainton.