7/27/2019 Morecambe vs Skem Athletic - Oct 6th 2013

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Sunday October 6th

and Skem were setting off on the long arduous journey to Morecambe,

who were now sitting top of the league after 4 games. This was not something that deterred

Skem though, if anything, it made them even more hungry for victory. As the Skem band

wagon pulled into the ground, everything seemed normal, and 3 points was as good as in

the bag. It was 2 o clock, and time to put their words into action, and as Morecambe kicked

off, Skem looked good for their victory as Olivia Cardwell went through on goal early on and

forced a corner. Then suddenly disaster struck for the away side as an instinctive half volley

on 10 minutes looped up and over Skems debutant keeper Cara Higgins , 1-0 Morecambe.

Skem needed to get back into this game quickly, and as Skems Abi Hart worked hard in

midfield, she intercepted a pass and broke through Morecambes back line, only to shoot

wide. Again Hart found space on the quarter of an hour mark, but again composure let her

down in front of goal. Then on 17 minutes Morecambe broke down the right and fired in a

second at skems near post. Skem were quickly losing control of this game and looked very

unsure of themselves. Once again though Hart went through on goal, and as the keeper

came rushing off her line, Hart held her nerve to poke the ball past the on rushing player

and into the goal. Finally a breakthrough for Skem 2-1. Joy was short lived though as onceagain Morecambe fired the ball into the Skem goal from the right hand side. Skems usually

assured back line looked brittle at best, their performances from previous weeks were

nowhere to be seen. On 38 minutes, Skems De Gier put pressure on Morecambes left back

only to come away with the ball, and single handedly force her way into the box and find the

back of the net with a superb individual goal. If Skem could just keep it at 3-2 then the

second half could prove a different story, but as the clock ticked down towards half time

Morecambe again broke into Skems box only for centre half Natalie Walsh to brush the

attacker easily off the ball. PENALTY!!!!!! Skem were in utter disbelief, never a foul, a simple

case of being punished for being a stronger player. 4-2 to Morecambe and a shell shocked

Skem wearily trudged off the pitch to await the half time response. Up stepped managerMark Ashton to deliver his verdict, and it wasnt a good one, simply described as the worst

display of football since his time as manager at this club. Would this spark life into a team

that looked disinterested and lacking any fight, only time would tell. Second half, and Skem

just like the first half had some early chances, a shot from Cardwell went over the bar, and

then Weedall produced some great play down the right and provided a cross that was once

again met by Cardwell, only to head over. It was time to ring the changes, off were last

games star players Ash Taylor and Kayleigh Bradshaw, Ash had gone back into her usual

outfield position this week after her man of the match performance in goal against

Southport, but with her injury still a concern, it was best to bring her off. On went Gabby

Buckley and Amy Fox to try and inject some life into this game. It had just gone past thehour mark when Skems Hart won a free kick just outside the box, a turning point perhaps,

but as the whole team watched on in anticipation, Cardwells well struck free kick hit the

bar. Skem soon found themselves applying some pressure, could they make it count

though? Skem forced a corner, it was whipped in beautifully and met powerfully by Skem

captain Kelly Corser who followed the rule book by heading the ball down, it came off a

Morecambe boot and seemed destined for the back of the net, but a superb save from the

keeper prevented an own goal. 20 minutes to go as Morecambe once again found the cracks

in Skems defence and put their side 5-2 ahaead. Skems Hart was working tirelessly upfront

to try and create something, but her own frustration was beginning to tell as another

chance went begging on 75 minutes. Again, Skem rang the changes,off came last yearsgolden boot winner Cardwell, along with Walsh and Weedall, and on went Kara Deary, Emily

7/27/2019 Morecambe vs Skem Athletic - Oct 6th 2013

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Willingham And Laura Marsh. Surely now it was too late to make anything happen. Both

teams continued to create chances but the game had gone stale, a kick to the head for

Skems keeper seemed the only talking point as the clock ran down, but again the referee

gave nothing. A late chance for Deary went over the bar after a nice touch from De Gier,

before Morecambe went straight down the other end to make it 6-2, and as their fans and

bench laughed and jeered, Skem could only hang their heads in shame. A beer in the bar

and a sausage butty seemed the only positive aspect of this away day at the seaside. Man of

the match went to Abi Hart for her tireless running and hard work.