It's polyester Jim, but not as we know it

I had commitments in the morning before Prescot Cables' game at Hyde United, so had to set out fairly late. The electric train to Manchester connected nicely with one to Newton for Hyde, which, according to Mr Google's maps is sixteen minutes walk from the ground. This, however, is the way to the main entrance, and there is a shorter route through what Google Earth has as a street, but which felt worryingly like someone's back garden, to a side entrance.

The ground has been upgraded to Conference standard, so has modern conveniences like regulation height metal pitch perimeter barriers, just right for resting my arms without getting concrete dust on my coat. A sense of community is retained by features such as a memorial wall, on which there are a number of plaques commemorating deceased supporters.

Many supporters enjoy the chance to meet the locals.

Richie, our leader in beer and pub choices, and friend

The main feature of the ground is a new 4G pitch. Our team train on such a surface, but this is the first time I have seen a game on one. At least, I think it is, as, when I looked up the difference between 3G and 4G, some sites suggested that the difference was a marketing name, and all the technology was 3G. The surface looked particularly smooth, in better condition than my living room carpet. It was an even green, without any visible black between the blades, and only threw up any rubber infill on sliding tackles, although other descriptions led me to expect no rubber crumb at all.

There seemed to be some spare turf.

We secured an early goal. The home goalkeeper was playing the ball with his feet, and did not see an advancing Lloyd Dean, who successfully dispossessed him. Celebrations started before the ball went in to the net.

This could be counting chickens before they are hatched, we have all seen players miss in that situation, but Lloyd did not err.

I decided to divide my time in this half into three locations, behind the goal on each side, then on the side, near the benches.

James McCulloch

The floodlights came on for the second half, up to which point I had not noticed the unusual combination of a corner arrangement on one side, and a side arrangement on the other, including distinctive pylons on top of the stand.

The quality of the light meant I could do as I did in the first half and move round behind the goal. There did not appear to be any particularly poorly illuminated spots.

Harry Cain, pictured just after half time

Valter Fernandes, near the end of the game

We held out until about 75 minutes, when the hosts scored from a goalmouth scramble. I am not in the habit of showing the opposition's goals in detail, but you have to hand it to their player for getting a leg to Jordan Wynne's clearance.

The rest of the pictures from the game can be seen on the club website here, and on Google Photos here.

Final score: Hyde United 1 Prescot Cables 1 (Dean)