April showers

Despite having supported Prescot Cables since the early 1990s, it was only last season that I first visited local rivals Skelmersdale United. Skelmersdale play at the West Lancashire College Stadium, a few minutes' walk from the main Southport to Wigan bus route, although on this occasion, I took up the offer of a lift via the Prince Albert in Westhead. The ground is also known as Stormy Corner, which appears to be the only concrete commemoration of the village of the same name, demolished in the 1960s to make way for the development of Skelmersdale New Town.

New grounds on an industrial estate can sometimes feel a bit bleak, and villages can get their names for a reason. Corner is explained by a look at an old map, and Stormy, well you can guess what the weather can be like. We were fortunate: AFC Liverpool, playing back home in Prescot, had their game called off due to the rain.

The away crowd keeping dry(ish)

Most of our support took cover in the stand, but the camera and I were well covered, so I took up my usual position behind the goal Prescot were attacking, but not before getting a couple of shots of our own goalkeeper, with even the programme seller in his booth looking impressed at the jump.

Brian Pilkington

Once the cover has been sorted out, cloudy and wet weather at this time of year gives an easy light, with very little processing required to adjust the lighting, apart perhaps from to emphasise the rain.

Other liquids seemed to be in shorter supply -

- or perhaps it was just a marketing ploy.

Skelmersdale has never been a profitable place for Prescot to visit, and it looked to be so again with Skelmersdale's first goal from Shaun Tuck. An excellent reply from Ashley Ruane gave a brief hope that this may be a more productive visit, although normal service was quickly resumed.

Ashley Ruane lines up his shot

In the second half, one of the home officials suggested I might like to try their gantry.

I decided not to avail myself of the opportunity, as this blog is about taking pictures from areas accessible to the general public, and I suspected there may be a few health and safety forms to be filled in before hopping up the ladder. The result of the endeavours of the gentlemen on the gantry is available as a video nasty (if you support Prescot) here.

The rain eased off in the second half, and even a little sun was able to peep through the clouds.

Steven Tames competes for the ball with former Cables player Rob McIntosh

The rest of the pictures from the game can be seen here.