The light takes its time to get brighter

The trouble with the light at this time of year is that unless the sun is fully out, it is not very strong, even when there is not much cloud. Still, at least the sun goes down 8 minutes later than at out last game, although the benefit of that depends on the referee not hanging about coming out for the second half.

This weekend saw Prescot Cables entertain Curzon Ashton. The corresponding fixture last season saw Curzon resting players for the last game of the season, knowing their playoff place and home advantage were secure. In mid season there are no such luxuries, with Curzon Ashton well within reach of the playoff places, and Prescot needing points to pull away from Goole, Ossett Albion and Garforth Town.

Ryan Gratton

The Met Office tell us last year was the 2nd wettest since records began. We do not currently have a major issue with fixture congestion, with only two games to be rearranged, which I suspect may have something to do with having a run of away games in November. Had we had more games scheduled at home, I suspect we would have had more postponements, as the pitch is definitely sufferng from the weather. In the remaining 17 weeks of the season, we have 12 home games still to play, and our tenants, AFC Liverpool, have 15. If there is one thing we can almost guarantee, there will be postponements in the next few weeks, either due to rain or ice, which should make for an interesting March and April. We can see some of the damage that the weather has done, undoing a lot of the hard work Doug Lace and Harry Molyneux have put in.

Danny Lambert

In the second half, the lighting advantage provided by the calendar was cancelled out by the half not starting until sunset at 4.07. I am not sure why, the first half started on time and did not have a significant amount of time added on. I therefore took up position on the Gasworks Side, opposite the stand. Fortunately I was not asked for evidence of my relation to any of the players: the players' fathers seemed to be extensively populating that side - I noticed Mr McCulloch, Mr Webb, Mr Fielding and Mr Rimmer of those I recognise from our side, and I was standing next to a gentleman who, judging by his directed encouragement, was probably the father of one of the Curzon Ashton players.

From this vantage point I did not capture the Prescot goal, a superb shot by Anthony Shinks from the touchline in front of the stand, under the second floodlight pylon. I was not expecting a shot from there, and would not have captured it anyway, given the light. Those on that side of the ground expressed the opinion that there was little doubt from the moment Anthony took it that it was going in.

Anthony Shinks

Every now and again you get a picture where a player is in just the right position to capture something behind him, as here, with Dave Owens unintentionally advertising the Cables 100 Club (renamed the 125 Club in our 125th anniversary season).

Dave Owens

I slightly cheekily included it in my selection for the Merseymart, as a free advert for our fundraising efforts on the back page would not go amiss. I was, however, not at all surprised when they passed it over for this one, to which they allocated 4 columns and about half the height of the page, so I am not complaining.

James McCulloch

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