Skem face up to Premier crunch

May 3 2008 by David Bassett, Liverpool Echo

SKELMERSDALE United go into this afternoon’s massive promotion battle with FC United of Manchester at the end of what manager Tommy Lawson has described as a “fantastic season.”

Lawson’s men are playing in the final of the UniBond First Division North play-offs at Bury’s Gigg Lane, with a place in the Premier Division at stake and with it the prospect of a host of league derbies against Vauxhall Motors, Marine, Prescot Cables and Cammell Laird.

It is an exciting opportunity for Skem, who, as well as claiming a play-off place after finishing third, have also reached the final of the UniBond Cup, where they lost to Premier Division high-flyers Eastwood Town, and the semi-finals of the Liverpool Senior Cup.

“We have still got things to play for when everyone else has finished, and it has been a fantastic season,” said boss Lawson, who also paid tribute to the growing support for the club in the town.

A total of almost 10,000 fans have passed through the turnstiles in Skem’s league and cup games at their Ashley Travel Stadium this season, at an average of 275 per game, and Lawson said: “The support has been growing on a weekly basis and that is brilliant.

“People want to see winning teams and the support around the town has increased because of our excellent home record,” added Lawson, whose side won 20 of their 34 home games in all competitions.

“People get caught up in it all, whether it is a cup run, the league campaign or watching young players develop.”