7/27/2019 Blackpool vs Skem Athletic - Oct 13th 2013

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After a week of deliberation and reflection from Skem Athletics management team and

players, it was match day once again. Training had been positive, and the players were

ready to continue their response from last weeks away defeat at Morecambe. Earlier in the

week the camp had been shook with the departure of leading goal scorer and last seasons

golden boot winner Olivia Cardwell, a big hole to fill indeed. Would this affect the response,

or would it make the players pull together and show everyone that there was still a team to

be reckoned with in the female half of Skelmersdale. Down the M55 to Blackpool was

todays destination, a third consecutive away trip to the seaside. Blackpool currently sat

below Skem in the table, and they were hoping it would stay that way. The venue was the

home of Blackpools training facility, and the pitch was immaculate, a dance floor for which

to play football. As the teams lined up, Skem had a different look about them with the ever

present left back Molly Parker taking up a more attacking role in midfield. Skem kicked off

shooting right to left, and immediately looked like a team with a new lease of life. With a

new front line of Gabby Buckley and Kara Deary, Skem looked to make an early impact on

the game. It took only 5 minutes, the ever increasing fitness of midfield maestro Ashley

Taylor was to prove pivotal in Skems rise to success, as she picked up the ball in theBlackpool box and smashed it past the helpless keeper to give her team a dream start. The

following minutes followed the same vain as Blackpool struggled to cope with this

revitalised team. With only 8 minutes on the clock Skem were 2-0 up, courtesy of an

outstanding long range pass from Becca De Gier to the feet of Buckley who took the ball

perfectly in her stride and coolly slid it past the onrushing keeper into the net. Everything

was going to plan when Blackpool had a break of their own, but a re-energised back line was

a match for anyone. Emma Valentine who had moved across to left back to replace Parker

was excellent as she proved impassable with every Blackpool attack, she easily saw off the

advancing forward which allowed right back Olivia Weedall to clear. Skems Taylor was now

starting to control the game, she was ghosting past players with ease, and proving aconstant threat in and around the Blackpool box. On the quarter of an hour mark she

collected the ball and made her way towards goal, 1...2...3 defenders, and still she kept

going, a simple yet effective trick was all she needed to make a mockery of this Blackpool

defence. BOOM!!!!! 3-0 and what a goal, Skem seemed unstoppable in this form, was this

really the same team of a week ago? Blackpool again tried to breach their backline but to no

avail. Skems players were now growing in confidence as even right back Weedall surged

forward to get a shot on goal. There wasnt even half an hour on the clock when some

superb link up play down the left from Valentine and Parker created an opportunity for

Buckley to strike again, but a hard tackle sending Buckley to the ground earned Skem a free

kick in a very dangerous position, up stepped the inform Taylor to go close but just over theBlackpool bar. Blackpool then had a goal disallowed for off side after a late flag from

linesman Anderton, and vice captain Natalie Walsh let rip with a tirade of harsh advice for

the novice official. Skem were in a strong position already when Taylor popped up once

again to seal a first half hat-rick and put her team 4-0 up. With only 10 minutes of the first

half remaining Skem earned themselves a corner down the left, newly promoted attacker

Parker stepped up to take it being the only natural left sided player in the team, this new

position had shown a side to her game that gave the coaching staff food for thought. As the

ball flew beautifully into the Blackpool box, the rising head of Skems midfield nodded the

ball perfectly into the back of the net. No prizes for which head it was, Taylor with her

fourth goal, and still not half time. With the referees whistle due any minute, there was stilltime for Taylor to make it 6-0 with an exquisite attempt using the outside of her foot, but

7/27/2019 Blackpool vs Skem Athletic - Oct 13th 2013

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the ball went just over. Half time Skem 5 Blackpool 0. The second half couldnt come quick

enough as Skem were ready to make it a very bad day at the office for this coastal outfit. It

started sluggish, not in any way like the first period. 10 minutes in and Blackpool had pulled

a goal back, no clean sheet for the improving Cara Higgins but not letting it get to her she

quickly bounced back to her feet to go again. Skem were now advancing forward and

creating several chances for Deary who couldnt find the back of the net. Just before the

hour mark De Gier burst down the right, causing no end of problems for the Blackpool

defence, even their despairing fans were at a loss as to a soloution to deal with Skems

number 6. She won a free kick on the edge of the box, again Taylor stepped up with a

forethought to hit the ball with the outside of her foot, it didnt quite go to plan but the

rebound fell kindly to Buckley who nearly restored Skems 5 goal lead. Buckley was once

again at the centre of the action when she linked up superbly with De Gier down the right,

with a move straight off the training ground, an over lapping run and text book cut back

which Buckley just couldnt keep down. A change was to be made as Skem struggled with

fatigue and fitness, it was no surprise considering the performance they had put in. Deary

was first to go prompting a reshuffle, so as substitute Laura Marsh dropped in at right back,the versatile Weedall was pushed upfront to play menace to Blackpools defence. The game

was end to end for a period with Blackpool having an audacious long range attempt at one

end before Skems Taylor won yet another free kick at the other. Quarter of an hour to go

when Blackpool attacked the edge of Skems box at pace, former womens pro Mac Barlow

had made a significant difference to this Blackpool side after coming off the bench, and she

orchestrated a move which lead to lunging tackle from Skems Valentine right on the edge

of the box. This was a side to young Valentines game that was rarely talked about, her

being usually so precise with her decisions and tackles, a yellow card and a free kick in a

dangerous position. The free kick blazed over, and a remorseful Valentine apologised and

moved back into position. Blackpool soon pulled yet another goal back after some rareindecision in Skems defence. 5-2 with 10 minutes to go, chances came thick and fast now

for Skem as they found a second wind from somewhere, first De Gier again wreaked havoc

down the right before chances for Weedall, Taylor and Buckley saw Skem go close at the

end. As the game came to a close, there was still time for Skems Kayleigh Bradshaw to

attempt an audacious lob of her own, but it wasnt to be her day. The whistle went as the

local airport faded into the back ground as the sun started to drop on this glorious

afternoon. A new chapter possibly? A brighter future? One things for sure, they had all done

themselves proud in the colours of this great club. With many contenders for man of the

match it seemed only fair that the eventual winner was none other than Ashley Taylor

whose 4 goal brace had put Blackpool to the sword in spectacular fashion.