GREAT Harwood had Warren Peake sent off as they slumped to defeat at Skelmersdale.

Player-manager Denis Underwood was particularly disappointed with the decision that saw Peake collect his first booking as the referee showed yellow cards to five of the Town side.

The visitors also lost key midfielder Paul Brown through injury during the second half as their chances of a fight-back were nipped in the bud. Skelmersdale went 2-0 up inside the first 15 minutes - John Brownrigg thundered a free-kick past Underwood into the top-corner in only the second minute, and prolific Robbie Cowley pounced following another set-piece after 18 minutes.

Harwood hit back and played some of their best football of the campaign up to the break with Mark Walsh and Neil Baron both going close.

However, a second goal for Cowley on 51 minutes when Underwood had been left to deal with a bouncing back-pass early in the second half, left Town facing an uphill battle.

And despite Underwood's efforts to keep the hosts at bay, Terry Burghall added a fourth goal four minutes from time.

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