The Skelmersdale United youth team showed that they have the heart for a battle as they progressed into the Third Round Qualifying of the FA Youth Cup at Stormy Corner. Both teams took the lead and were pegged back as Warrington showed plenty of fight themselves, the Skem boys being rewarded by a trip to either FC Halifax Town or Stocksbridge Park Steels in the next round.

The two teams occupy the top two places in the North West Youth Alliance League, so a close encounter had to be expected and the twenty two players didn’t disappoint.

Skelmersdale dominated the opening exchanges, but Warrington took the lead, their first viable attack seeing Ben Collins beat the Skelmersdale offside trap before finding the net.

The Skelmersdale offensive continued, the Warrington goalkeeper Nathan Butler having a busy time, thwarting Brandon Gaskell and Jack Owen among others.

Finally United struck in the 18th minute with a well-crafted goal. Josh Nicholson holding the ball up on the left-hand had the foresight and patience to wait until support arrived, he then rolled the ball back to Gaskell, who thumped an unstoppable effort high into the Warrington net.

After the equaliser, Owen twice went close, once bursting through the Warrington backline before shooting wide, the second occasion saw him kept out by Butler after Gaskell set him up.

In the first half-hour Skelmersdale could easily have been a couple of goals up, but much of why they were not was down the tenacity of the Warrington players who gradually built a foothold in the game as the half progressed.

Seconds after the interval Skelmersdale jumped from the traps and went for Warrington and Owen was soon put through on goal, he was tripped by Butler and a penalty was given. Adam Russell saw a powerful spot-kick saved by Butler, but he could only parry the ball and it ran to Nicholson, who kept his cool and with his left-foot placed it into the far corner to give Skelmersdale a 2-1 lead.

Skelmersdale had had more of the possession in the first-half and Warrington had plenty after the break, when it was Skelmersdale’s turn to show their tenacity. Warrington twice had goals disallowed for offside before they levelled in the 66th minute. The ball was chipped into the Skelmersdale area from the left and was headed down, allowing Rhys Bowers to net from close range.

Skelmersdale then had a spell in the ascendancy and on 70 minutes a wonderfully placed ball over the Warrington defence by Ross Lowey not only found Owen, it bisected two Warrington defenders at the same time. Owen who could well be described as a confident type of player, chested the ball down and past Butler, let it roll and walked it into the Warrington net.

Warrington now had to pile the pressure on if they were to save the game and to an extent they did, but still Skelmersdale threatened.

Both goalkeepers made tremendous saves before the end, Skelmersdale’s Andrew Marshall from an angled drive from Callum Wallace and Butler who had had a great game from Gaskell, acrobatically tipping a shot over the crossbar.

Warrington almost grabbed extra-time, but Bowers hit the Skelmersdale crossbar in added time.

Skelmersdale had edged it. But both teams deserved the upmost credit for a great game of proper cup-tie football.

SKELMERSDALE UNITED: Marshall, Ball, Rooney, Lowey, Collins H., Woods, Donaldson, Russell, Nicholson © (Howarth, 67), Gaskell, Owen Subs (not used) Langley, Hallwood, Nodwell, Miller

WARRINGTON TOWN: Butler, Mitchell, Currey, Hadley, Ford ©, Marsh (Armstrong, 84), Scott, Wallace, Collins B. (Hayes, 38), Bowers, Liversey Subs (not used) McCarroll, Fitzpatrick, Silver

Referee: Liam Ockleshaw (Wigan) Attendance: 101