Attendance of the day

Even a couple of years ago, Prescot Cables would not have anticipated that our game would attract the division's best attendance of the day. However, our 370 against Glossop North End achieved that, at least for a game: there may have been more people in the public houses of Atherton, as South Shields' visit fell victim to the dreaded, and unanticipated by the weather forecast, lunchtime downpour.

We too had looked at the pitch at the start of the day, and reported no need for an inspection, just as it started to rain, although, fortunately, it stayed as light as forecast. Glossop's photographer joined me as we picked our way round the foot of the steps from the dressing rooms, where just about everyone who has business on the pitch will walk, most of them wearing studs. I do not think it was a man eating swamp, but we were not taking any chances. The pitch was firm enough, although I left a distinct Dr Martens footprint if I stood in one place for too long.

James Edgar had sustained a shoulder injury at Clitheroe, which gave Dan Burns an opportunity for a start.

Dan Burns

Regular spectators will be aware of a couple of leaks in the gutter of the main stand, sending a jet of water on to anyone standing below. That problem should be solved, as the repair people have been in, and have also taken an advert.

Reece McNally

We are a superstitious bunch in football, or maybe what goes around comes around. So, when you use a picture of an opposition player coming off second best to generate a meme, you can be sure he will score against you at the next opportunity. Chris Baguley did the honours for the visitors just before half time.

We came out more determined for the second half, and James McCulloch had the first part of a mixed afternoon with a goal a couple of minutes in.

Scenes ensued.

This was to be the high point of the game, with pressure from the visitors leading to a second goal ten minutes from time.

It is still quite dark towards the end of the game, so I worked my way round to the side of the pitch.

Louis Coyne

An unsuccessful afternoon was compounded a few minutes from time when James McCulloch made a tackle, that did look a bit mistimed from my angle, but did not look to fall within the definition of excessive force or endangering the safety of an opponent, and was unfortunate to receive a straight red card rather than a second yellow. The consequences for the afternoon would have been the same, but he will now be suspended for three games rather than one.

In spite of the defeat, Ben Barnes ensured we stayed in the game for longer than we might have done, and won the Roanza Truck & Van Man of the Match award.

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

Final score: Prescot Cables 1 (McCulloch) Glossop North End 2

Crown green goaling

I took advantage of the connection times between trains to do a little church hopping on my way to Prescot Cables' game at Clitheroe. In Preston, I had been to St Walburge's Catholic Church for a First Communion a few months ago and felt I had missed something as I was whisked in and out as a guest: this was my third attempt to visit to appreciate the sheer scale and the detail of the place, my previous two changes at Preston being disrupted by waiting for pitch inspections. St Walburge's is very much back in use after being on the verge of closure a few years ago. Moving on to Blackburn, the Cathedral and the Borough Council have created the Cathedral Quarter, a vast improvement on the windswept bus shelters that greeted visitors arriving by train previously, and which matches the clean lines of the interior, although I have to admit that as cathedrals go, as I looked around I did not see many opportunities for arty photos.

We had sent some players out on loan up the road in Padiham to get some game time: Marcus Burgess returning after injury, Josef Faux returning from travelling, and Tunde Owolabi, who seemed to be doing well enough getting back into the team, but felt it would be of use to him. Marcus is already familiar with the surroundings.

Marcus Burgess visits Prescot with Padiham in 2014

Once in Clitheroe, I went straight to the ground to reconnoitre the territory. I have taken enough pictures from the terraces, but had not considered the vantage point from pitchside. There are some interesting gradients, not just a side to side slope.

During the warm up, the referee was looking suspiciously at how well Ben Barnes was filling the goalmouth, wondering whether the crossbar was the regulation eight feet above the ground for all of its length. It is not an uncommon situation, but I suspect the pitch may be due some work in this area over the summer.

Ben Barnes

I then turned my attention to our  players warming up. It is a little known fact that cones have a life independent of the clubs that procured them.

I was looking out for a couple of new members of the squad, and was able to catch Matthew Hamilton, who came on as a substitute in the second half.

I took up position at the lower side of the slope, behind the goal we were attacking. A couple of boys expressed concern that I might get accidentally clattered in my position, and recommended I retreat behind the barrier. I thought it was middle aged types like me who were supposed to be concerned about 'elf 'n' safety.

Chris Almond opened the scoring after twelve minutes.

Chris Almond

Ben Barnes was called into action several times, culminating in a penalty save just before the half hour. Unfortunately, we undid the good work a minute or so later when we left a gap in the defence for Alexander Newby to exploit. Josh Klein-Davies restored our advantage five minutes later.

Josh Klein-Davies celebrates his goal

For the second half, I decided to stay the same side of the pitch, to get the half of the team I missed in the first half. With the nets attached to the pitch perimeter, I was committed to this side if I did not want to start climbing over fences, and I am built for comfort rather than manoeuvrability. Having scored individually in the first half, Josh Klein-Davies and Chris Almond teamed up for a third.

Josh Klein-Davies forces Chris Thompson to commit himself ...

... and Chris Almond puts the ball away

I was quite happy with the lighting conditions.

Reece Fishwick

Having chosen to be the side of the dugouts and the linesman, I would need to stay behind the goal whether I liked it or not - as it happened it worked out quite well.

Valter Fernandes

The hosts made a determined push during the last 10 minutes, but some solid defence ensured we retained our lead.

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

Final score: Clitheroe 1 Prescot Cables 3 (Almond 2, Klein-Davies)

Better light, not such good football

Prescot Cables' decisive win "away" to Skelmersdale United on New Year's Day placed us top of the table as we went into the first weekend of the year. We need to be realistic about the likelihood of staying there, we have played four or five more games than the teams around us, and most are in form that suggest they would win at least some of their games in hand. Of course, whether we stay in a playoff position at least will depend at least as much on our own form, and we had the opportunity to test ourselves against Colne, who were the last team to beat us in the league back in October.

After a few weeks of grey skies and rain, we had a clear day, much easier right throughout the photographic process.

Andy Scarisbrick

The better weather had brought out the crowds, and we attracted a healthy 478, second in the division only to Tadcaster hosting South Shields.

James McCulloch

Having made sure to capture the Dugout Irregulars a couple of games ago, it was the turn of the Gasworks Side Regulars.

Jazz McCulloch

The light was good to the end of the half.

Joe Herbert, time 15:43, 300mm f/5.6, 1/500s ISO 2800

This was looking as though it would not be a vintage performance, and neither side had been able to impose themselves by half time.

The light was holding up well, unlike the team, who were having as much trouble with co-ordination as in the first half. With Colne coming out stronger, they went ahead after three minutes. I had settled in front of the Roadshow End, where the most vocal groups of supporters had positioned themselves for a while, so there was plenty of noise.

Jordan Wynne is tripped ...

... and lines up the resulting free kick with James Edgar

Any hopes of this being a good day on the field, and keeping our top spot, slipped away with a second goal from the visitors after twenty minutes. Still, this was the first time for a few weeks the light remained good throughout, with the floodlights assisted by the last of the civil twilight.

Reece McNally

After the game, there were the usual awards, with the Roanza Truck & Van Man of the Match going to Valter Fernandes.

Valter Fernandes

The Fence End also presented their Pesky Bullon d'Or: I am not sure if there are any criteria for the award, but I think it was voted for on the @CablesNation Twitter account, the winner being Lloyd Dean.

Graham Nevitt and Mike Rice present Lloyd Dean with his award

A close up of the Pesky Bullon d'Or

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

Final score: Prescot Cables 0 Colne 2.

Away at home

Regular readers may notice that these pages do not stray much into professional football, so I was a little confused as to why Harry Kane received quite so many plaudits for the number of goals in a calendar year, when a season is what matters. We can still mark the achievement, albeit with dodgy punctuation.

Since November, Skelmersdale United have been sharing Prescot Cables' ground, having been ejected from Stormy Corner by the landlord. Our game away to them would therefore be in familiar surroundings, and convenient for transport as Skelmersdale does not enjoy bus services on New Year's Day. Not that I could say Prescot enjoyed them either, as I had a considerable wait for a connection.

Arriving at the ground, I went towards the gate for season tickets before swiftly remembering to join the queue to pay. As I was kitting out, programme editor Gareth Coates expressed surprise that I was wearing a good pair of boots to go on to the pitch. I explained that keeping them well polished means the rain runs off, which is why the Army are so keen on it. This would be amply tested during the afternoon. Once I was ready, I was about to breeze through the tunnel, then realised that I was not technically at my own ground and should wait until the teams had entered the field and the gate was opened again. We occupied the unfamiliar away dugout, and Dave Powell and his team were providing a blast from the past at home.

Our game at the weekend had been postponed due to a waterlogged pitch, and, whilst it had dried, rain was forecast. It duly arrived, and whilst I was getting my cover in place, Chris Almond opened the scoring against his former club. I was in time to catch the celebration.

Chris Almond celebrates his first goal

The regulars from the Fence End had taken shelter in the stand, and were snapping those of us out in the rain.

I caught the second of Chris Almond's goals.

We were seeing all the effects of the rain.

Jordan Wynne

It eased off for a while towards the end of the half.

Josh Klein-Davies

Two more goals from Chris Almond had me wandering round at half time puffing on an imaginary pipe murmuring that the last time anyone scored five in a game was probably Jack Roscoe in 1935 (he scored six in a 10-0 win against Harrowby in the FA Cup). Sadly, Chris was not to have the opportunity to equal this feat, as he took a knock to the Achilles tendon he ruptured at the beginning of the season, which put him out of action for three months, and so withdrew as a precaution.

Lloyd Dean assumed scoring duties ten minutes in to the second half.

Lloyd Dean

Given the light, I had taken my usual approach of positioning myself under a floodlight on the Gasworks Side. This was not one of my better decisions, as the wind was blowing from the west, so I was getting water on the front of the lens more quickly than I could wipe it off, giving a soft focus effect. I got a couple of exposures to illustrate the conditions.

Reece Fishwick

After getting this one, I retreated to shelter on the terraces on the stand side. From here, I was able to see Dan Burns score his first goal for the club.

Dan Burns celebrates his goal

After the game, I normally remove my high vis and waterproof trousers, but I thought it best to keep them on, as putting them in my bag risked drowning the camera. I was, however, delighted when I got home to find my highly polished boots had done the trick, and my feet were completely dry.

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

Final score: Skelmersdale United 1 Prescot Cables 6 (Almond 4, Dean, Burns)

Boxing Day internationals

On an otherwise dull Boxing Day, there is nothing like a bit of international football. On the pitch, Prescot Cables' game at home to Colwyn Bay was not much like international football - the accents of most of the visiting players suggested they came from the traditional recruiting grounds for many North Wales coast clubs of Liverpool and Manchester. Then again, when going there, I notice a majority of the television aerials point to Winter Hill rather than Moel-y-Parc.

I arrived in plenty of time after a surprisingly smooth journey - the margin being added to by ten minutes' delay to kick off caused by a power failure to the dressing rooms and board room. Although the sunset has been getting later for a couple of weeks, at this time of year the light depends a lot more on cloud cover. The floodlights were on and I used shutter priority from the beginning. Some were keen to add a splash of colour to an otherwise grey day.

The eyes of the crowd are on Brian Richardson's socks

Holiday time often means changes are required, and couple of players were keen to impress on their first start for a while.

Andy Scarisbrick

Once again we made no delay opening the scoring, with a goal from Chris Almond after six minutes.

Chris Almond shoots for goal

The visitors replied about five minutes later. I followed my usual practice of spending about twenty minutes on one side of the goal, then swapping sides.

Jordan Wynne

During this period, I sensed I was being watched, and looked up to see a large dog, of friendly demeanour, with its paws on the pitch perimeter fence, carefully inspecting my exposures. The dog's owner introduced herself: Samantha Heaps of Cryotherapy Liverpool, who offers treatment for sports injuries. It is a similar principle to ice packs, but uses a more intense cold to improve recovery times from injuries. Josh Klein-Davies had been the first to try it, and Samantha was looking for a few pictures to promote the service.

On the field, Chris Almond continued his run of goals to restore our advantage.

With the poor light and late start, most of the pictures in the final collection came from the first half. For the second, I went straight to the side of the pitch.

Reece McNally

A headed goal from Lloyd Dean ten minutes from time made the lead secure. I thought I had not got a particularly good picture, but it worked out reasonably well.

In any event, I got the ball in the net.

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

Final score: Prescot Cables 3 (Almond 2, Dean) Colwyn Bay 1

The right stop

I have been to Ossett on so many occasions, I can now travel on autopilot. I can even afford to be vague as to which club we are playing: if I find our coach parked outside Ossett Town, opposite the bus station, it is time to get off, whereas if it is not, I need to stay on for a couple more stops to Albion.

I had seen the team sheet online, and a few of us were surprised Lloyd Dean was on the bench. However, we have just assembled not just a team that plays well together, but a squad can do so in a surprising number of permutations, allowing us to take full advantage to rotate players. Unusually for this level, this also applies in goal, with Ben Barnes having performed well whilst Marcus Burgess was injured, and Marcus was able to return whilst Ben was on holiday.

Marcus Burgess

I have remarked before on the microclimate affecting Ingfield, being a couple of degrees colder than the town. Our video analyst Josh remarked that it was a bit cold, but he says that in places I think have been positively balmy for the time of year. I have noticed since working pitchside, that the perimeter fence often provides a convenient windbreak, an advantage he does not have, being often above the protection even of the ground perimeter.

I was not keen on the width (or lack of it) of the run off behind the goal, so I took up position by the side of the pitch. The ground has a slight slope, and falls away sharply behind one end, so you get plenty of shots against the sky. Add that this was the earliest sunset of the year for us (it had been getting later for a week, but we were further east than the previous week), throw in a sky that political journalist and Dulwich Hamlet supporter Conor Pope once described as "England Euro 96 away shirt grey", and there were some good contrasts.

James Edgar

I was only just settled in my place when James Edgar opened the scoring. I had better luck capturing the shot when Josh Klein-Davies added a second.

Josh Klein-Davies lines up his shot

Chris Almond ensured we had a healthy three goal lead at half time.

Chris Almond

At half time I did a quick photoshoot for Josh, who wanted a picture for the cover of his university coursework. With people doing things like working a camera, it is considerably easier to take a picture of them pretending to do so in a controlled situation rather than trying to catch them doing so in the wild.

For the second half, I went to the bottom of the hill, and found a similar issue with the width of the run off, so I settled for the side again. I was barely in position before James Edgar opened the scoring for the half. More or less my first shot was the celebration.

I had operated for most of the first half on shutter priority, as the sports mode was giving me too slow a speed, and left the metering in spot mode from the previous game. For this half the floodlights came fully into play, so I tried centre weighted, before settling on matrix (which is also used by the sports mode). The lights at Ossett are quite bright and white so it worked quite well.

Reece Fishwick

Our fifth goal came directly from a free kick from the touchline by Josh Klein Davies, with Chris Almond completing a repeat of the scoring pattern from the first half.

A late substitution also saw Tunde Owolabi return to the team, after short spells at Hyde United and Glossop North End.

Tunde Owolabi

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

Final score: Ossett Town 0 Prescot Cables 6 (Edgar 2, Klein-Davies 2, Almond 2)