Engineering works

Hopes were high before Harrogate Railway Athletic's visit to Prescot Cables. We had seen a superb defensive point against Darlington, and were encouraged by three goals in a 5-3 defeat at Ramsbottom United. Draws and good goals against top sides keep players and supporters enthused, but wins against sides with whom we are competing to avoid relegation provide the points to secure safety. Harrogate looked safe, and we need a few more points to be sure.

Harrogate sides often include industrial sized Yorkshirepersons, but this time they had a few smaller players. Nathan Cartman, seen here with Phil Bannister, is a name that reaches even this side of the Pennines, being 10th in the scorers' table for our Division.

I took up position in front of the tea bar.

Mike Kennedy playing in front of the stand

I intended to adjourn behind the goal, but my lens hood blew on to the pitch (fortunately not the field of play) before I had chance to attach it, so I had to wait for the substitutes to start warming up so one could retrieve it.

Lloyd Balazs - second half substitute and impromptu photographer's assistant

I could probably get a bib and access to the pitch, but I have never done so, as I blog about using consumer kit from places spectators can access. Also, the perimeter is quite close to the edge of the field of play, so there is a risk of ending up sandwiched between a player and the fence.

Conditions were a bit misty, especially when the sun came out.

Robert Gilroy - picture taken from one corner flag to the other

There have been reports of air pollution including sand from the Sahara brought over by high level air currents. These reports had not appeared at the weekend, although a couple of friends found their cars surprisingly dusty on Sunday morning. Whatever the mist was, you still get an impression of it in the final version.

Dave Powell said to the Merseymart that the team did not really click as a unit for this game. We could not provide a response to an early Harrogate goal.

In the last few weeks we have been helped by teams around us losing or drawing when we have done so, and avoiding defeat at New Mills and Padiham maintained our position relative to them. This weekend, teams around us won, closing the gap between us and the relegation positions. In "normal" circumstances, two clubs are relegated from each division at Step 4, making 12 in all. In the event of Step 5 leagues not providing a club for promotion or of resignations further up, the club(s) second from bottom with the best points per game will be reprieved, so we develop an interest in the tables of the Ryman and Calor Leagues. Clubs finishing bottom is not eligible for reprieve.

However, we know Wakefield will not have a ground for next season. Clubs must own, lease or share for the following season a ground meeting the FA's Grade D by 31st March. Wakefield will therefore be relegated. I thought this meant they take the non-reprievable place, although Sports Performer understands the FA have stipulated the bottom placed club cannot be reprieved even in these circumstances.

This is further complicated by our local rivals Cammell Laird. Their Football Committee is separate from the Board of the Limited Company that owns the club. Due to a dispute over ownership, the Football Committee will not continue to run the football side after the end of this season. This places the ball with the Directors to find someone to run it or resign from the League. If they resign before the end of the season, and take a relegation position, the bottom club (it if is not Wakefield) must presumably be reprieved to avoid three clubs being relegated. If they resign after the end of the season, I have no idea whether they take the place of a relegated team, or a place goes into the national pot for reprieves.

With games against Curzon Ashton, Bamber Bridge and Warrington Town, our run in is not without challenges, but we are capable of picking up surprise points, and still have to travel to Wakefield - whilst our away form has not been good, neither has their home form.

The pictures from the game can be seen here.

Final score: Prescot Cables 0 Harrogate Railway Athletic 1