AFC Liverpool v Skelmersdale United, 1st August 2023

Sometimes in football the fixtures computer list throws up some intriguing opening fixtures. It was the midweek following
the opening weekend, and we were at home to Skelmersdale United, the club that poached our Manager Matt Potter over
the summer. Steve Fraser certainly rose to the occasion, tweeting a picture of the poached eggs he had for his tea at 
Dace's!

I missed the first five minutes or so, due to arriving from work. Both sides were trying to go for it. It was on the 17th 
minute when a Tommy Douglas run (I think) got stopped by the Skem defence. The ball was loose a good 20 plus yards 
from goal, and Kyle Schorah opportunistically shot home.

For a few minutes it looked like everything was on track. I was sat near Alan Harrison in the stand during the first half as
we were attacking that end, and Alan remarked how he was liking the referee. Then on 23 minutes Skem got in down 
their left. A ball came across the area and their number 7 Kristian Knowles slotted home.

The Reds did quickly recover though, and a few chances were created which may have produced a goal on another day. 
One effort saw us hit the woodwork. We were back in the lead on 35 minutes, and in style! Tommy Douglas shot from a 
good 30 yards plus into the top corner leaving the Skem Keeper with no chance. Marine stalwart Barry Lenton even 
suggested it was the best goal he had ever seen in 60 years of watching football at Rossett Park!

After going in 2-1 up at half time the second half saw us start quite slow. Skem did little to test us in the first 10 to 15 
minutes of the second half, but when they were in possession it seemed we had little urgency in putting pressure on the 
ball, which was somewhat frustrating.

Things did get better. We created a couple of efforts and our fans spirits got raised. Then it got even better. Dan Abdous 
picked the ball up in his own half, and went on a big run all the way into their area. He slotted the ball past Skem Keeper 
Oliver Green to scenes of jubilation and his first goal for the club.

There were just 7 minutes remaining and we were confident we would see it out. We had the ball in the corner and did 
some retaining of the ball. Then about 7 minutes into injury time they suddenly got a penalty. Ex-Red Jesse Dowling 
despatched it to give us a few minutes of squeaky bum time. I think it was 10 minutes injury time played in total. But 
thankfully we held on for a deserved victory.It was a first win of the season and massive to beat "the poachers"! 

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