Slitherine

If I have a relatively narrow area which the enemy must traverse, and the clock is going to make the difference between whether their pikes reach my main line or not.

Is it a valid use or gamey, to physically interpose skirmishers forcing them to be pushed out of the way and running down the clock?

If I understood correctly, that's pretty much what skirmishers are historical supposed to do.

"Slow them down until nightfall allows us to escape" sounds quite authentic to me.

It is also a sacrifice play as it is suicide for them. But war has always meant that some will die so that others may live.