United fail to take their chances as they are beaten at Wyberton

Skegness United 1

Skegness United were beaten 5-1 at Wyberton in the Lincolnshire League - but they didn’t go down without a fight.

Wyberton started well at the Causeway, but it was United who had first sight of goal when Michael Howard fired into the side netting from an acute angle.

A slip by Alex Simpson on the difficult playing surface let in Ben Jaques, who had a clear run at goal, but the Wyberton man could not get his shot in and was finally crowded out by the United defenders.

Back came Skegness but a good run down the right by Harry Ginniff saw his cross evade his teammates in the box.

When Wyberton broke through and fired a shot beyond keeper Travis Portas, Simpson got back to clear the danger.

On 15 minutes the home side took the lead when, following a United corner, the ball was cleared upfield and the visitors were caught short of numbers, Curtis Revell making no mistake from 10 yards out.

A minute later a free kick by Jake Portas hit a Wyberton defender and, with the ball going towards the goal, home keeper Martin Louth was alert to knock the ball out for a corner.

Jaques came close to doubling the hosts’ advantage when his overhead kick flew over the bar.

A good passing move by United resulted in Ginniff getting in a cross which eluded Louth in the home goal.

However, the ball reached Josh Clarke, who could not get a clear strike on the ball, which was gathered by Louth.

It was the turn of the home side when Portas had to bring off a good low save.

A Corey Cunliffe challenge thwarted another Wyberton attack while United came close to levelling the scores when Nathan Wetton’s free kick hit the junction of bar and post, the incoming Howard slipping on the surface before he could reach the rebound.

Within three minutes of the restart United were 2-0 down when poor marking in the penalty area resulted in Daniel White firing home from 15 yards.

On 55 minutes Portas had to make a good save to prevent Wyberton adding to their advantage. But it was three two minutes later as White found space in the area to knock home his second of the afternoon.

A minute later Ginniff beat three players but his shot-cum-cross went behind for a goal kick.

On the hour Wyberton made it 4-0 as a header by Wetton failed to reach Portas and Jaques nipped in to steer the ball home.

On 74 minutes it was 5-0, Nicky Frost lobbing Portas.

With 14 minutes to go United finally got on the scoresheet as Jake Portas found the net from 20 yards out.

United then had chances to narrow the scoreline further, but Howard and George Hobbins couldn’t convert opportunities which came their way.

UNITED: T. Portas, J. Portas, Wetton, Paul, Simpson (Reid), Howard, Clarke (Lovelace), Cunliffe (Kendrick), Hobbins, Pickett, Ginniff.

Men of Match: Harry Ginniff and Tom Pickett.