Not an entirely happy return

Players moving clubs is common at all levels of the game, probably more so at our level than amongst full time professionals with their contracts, transfer fees and transfer windows. So, former players often return to play for the opposition. Some go into management at other clubs, such as Simon Garner, recently appointed manager of Prescot Cables' visitors, Clitheroe.

I was away for the game earlier in the month at Clitheroe, where we lost 3-1. The scorer of our goal on that occasion, Connor McCarthy was injured for this match, as were James McCulloch and Dave Dempsey, with Antony Shinks also absent through illness. So, prospects were not good on paper, but our home form has been considerably better than our away form this season.

At least, I thought, as I caught the bus, the sun will make for good exposures in the first half. This was not to be, as a lot of high cloud had appeared by the time I got to the ground. I arrived a couple of minutes late to find us also a goal down. With those who would normally take the captain's duties unavailable, the task fell to Enzo Benn.

Enzo Benn

The visitors had the most of the play in the first half.

That's my Lottery numbers chosen - numbers on the front of shirts make sense in so many ways

Clitheroe went in two ahead at half time, after which the sides came out to the high cloud producing a fine sunset, much reproduced on Prescot Online and other local websites during the evening.

A half time substitution, bringing on Isaac Kusoloka for Sean Breen seemed to improve matters, as he was able to disturb the Clitheroe defence, which we had not really been able to do in the first half.

Isaac Kusoloka (no 16)

Isaac posted this picture on his Facebook page: a comment from one of his friends indicated I was not the only one who thought his gloves (so far there has not been anything in the Laws of the Game relating to what part of the kit their colour must match, but it can only be a matter of time) made it look as though he was jumping with his hands in his shorts.

This effort was saved, but Ged Murphy opened the scoring shortly afterwards.

Ged Murphy (no 4) scores our first goal

Isaac added the  equaliser a couple of minutes later, sealing a performance that earned him the Man of the Match award, and ensuring Clitheroe's returning manager took a point from his visit. The only snag for me was that I did not have a print quality picture of Isaac from the game to send to the Merseymart - there is a certain amount of pot luck involved in what you get from the second half at this time of year.

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

Final score: Prescot Cables 2 (Murphy, Kusoloka) Clitheroe 2