Everything but the goal for beaten Lilywhites

For the third game in the last four, Skegness Town failed to score.
George Hobbins.George Hobbins.
George Hobbins.

But it was not for the want of trying as the Lilywhites bossed their Rotherham-based opponents at the Vertigo Stadium.

Despite dominating the game the seasiders were made to pay for switching off for a split second during the first half.

They failed to deal with a long clearance from visiting keeper Dylan Parkin and Zac Kualifa nipped in to punish them, lashing home from close range after forcing his way into the danger area.

It was massively against the run of play. Parkgate had started with a lot of bluster, but 15 minutes in they were on the back foot and skipper Liam Parker tested Parkin with a far post header from a corner.

The keeper was grateful to see his defenders clear the resultant corner after Parker was again first to the ball.

In the 19th minute Kieran Wressell clipped the ball over the top of the Parkgate defence to George Hobbins, whose cross was met by new signing Daniel Trott. His effort went straight into the arms of Parkin.

Matthew Crookes then half-blocked a shot from Jordan Smith and it sat up kindly for Parkin to gather.

The seasiders won a series of corners as they piled on the pressure against a resolute Parkgate defence.

The Yorkshiremen had already lost twice against the Lilywhites, in league and cup, this season.

They were obviously in no mood to allow them to complete a hat-trick.

Trott’s shot was blocked on the line and Gary King was inches over the cross bar with a header following a corner from the left.

On 37 minutes Hobbins had the crowd on their feet when he burst out of defence and single-handedly pierced the visitors’ rearguard, but his shot lacked any conviction or direction.

It was from the resultant goal kick that the visitors broke the deadlock. Gathered on the half way line defenders failed to deal with Parkin’s clearance and Kualifa set off with the goal in his sights.

He rode a couple of unconvincing challenges before arrowing his shot into the roof of the net.

The second half was one way traffic, with Parkgate content to sit back and park the proverbial bus.

They defended as if their lives depended on it and deserve great credit for their gutsy performance and game management.

Wave after wave of Skegness attacks failed to produce an equaliser and the home side’s passing and shooting became more frantic as the full time whistle approached.

Parkgate dug deep and battled to keep the ball away from their goal.

They survived a strong penalty shout in the 68th minute when George Zuerner appeared to be illegally denied a shot at goal.

And when Parker crashed a late header against the cross bar there were further appeals for a spot kick as the visitors scrambled the ball away.

The seasiders looked to have equalised in the dying minutes when a looping header cleared Parkin, but somehow he managed to get back and acrobatically flip the ball over the cross bar.

The final whistle brought relief to a jubilant Parkgate team who had spent most of there second half with their backs to the wall.

With top side Winterton Rangers beating Hall Road Rangers 1-0, the second placed seasiders now trail the leaders by four points.

TOWN: J. Lambley, Parker, Field, Wressell, Zuerner, Rayner-Mistry, Hobbins, Smith, Trott, King, Morrall, Broughton, Brooks, Petronzio, Hamilton, Lovelace.