Skelmersdale United jump up to second place in the Evo-Stik Premier Division table with a pair of late goals from debutants. One a 16 year old who has been starring for the youth team, the other a former local star turn who has been out of the game for around six years and is making a return.

Both players made their debuts as substitutes and completely changed the game. Skelmersdale had gone a goal down on 50 minutes and were not showing signs of making the necessary breakthrough, when manager Tommy Lawson brought on Mark Byrne in the 62nd minute and within 15 minutes his shot had been diverted into the Belper net to level, then on came youth team star Jack Owen and he headed home the winner with his first touch in senior football.

Skelmersdale had opportunities in the first-half and should really have held the advantage well before the interval. Dan Mitchley headed wide from a free-kick after a foul on Curtis Thompson in the 18th minute and after he beat two men Connor McCarthy was thwarted by a terrific dive at his feet by Belper goalkeeper James Martin.

Belper had their moments and Skelmersdale’s Martin Fearon saved with his feet from Jon Froggatt early on and the same player put one across the face of goal right on half-time. But the weight possession had leaned heavily in Skelmersdale’s direction.

A bit of over eager refereeing denied Skelmersdale a great chance straight after the restart, a trip on McCarthy always deserved a yellow card and the referee stopped play to administer it even though Thompson was clean in on the Belper goal.

Belper won a rather spurious free-kick on 50 minutes, Froggatt going down very easily under a challenge from Josh Sumner. The free-kick was only about 22 yards out and Ian Ross gave Fearon no chance at all with a viciously curling shot, to give Belper the lead.

Skelmersdale then pressed a now entrenched Belper defence. Keeper Martin saved again at McCarthy’s feet then Mitchley headed over the crossbar from a Sumner cross.

Byrne came on for Mitchley as Skelmersdale tried a different approach and the change coupled with Skelmersdale finishing the stronger outfit worked.

Sumner and Kenny Strickland combined on the right to put the ball to Byrne; his shot was goalbound when Ross got a desperate boot to the ball sending it low into the bottom corner. It was officially an own goal, but morally Byrne should have had a comeback goal to his name.

On 80 minutes Byrne was fouled on the right-hand side and Strickland lined up the free-kick. The ball was driven to a central area about 8 yards from goal, youngster Owen had the confidence to lean on a central defender and bullet a header into the roof of the net. Seldom can a young player have announced his arrival in senior football in a more effective way.

SKELMERSDALE UNITED: Fearon, Strickland, Wisdom, McIntosh ©, Bodie, Kirkbride, Thompson, Sumner, Mitchley (Byrne, 62), McCarthy (Owen, 78), Ince Subs (not used) Wylie, Fernandes, Lloyd

BELPER TOWN: Martin, Pride, Nadat (Holden, 57), Ross, Varley, Walker, Cole, Warne, Froggatt (Garnett, 68), Cotton (Marrison, 74), Stevenson Subs (not used) Edridge, Low

Referee: Christopher Isherwood

Attendance: 181