Nash Gnash

Approaching Prescot Cables' game away to Curzon Ashton, there were two probable outcomes. Either everything would go right, and we would pull off a surprise point against the league leaders. Anything less, and our hosts were likely to show the efficiency that had taken them to the verge of the championship with three weeks to go and inflict a heavy defeat. It was not surprising there were a few regulars missing - most who travel on the coach were there, but less who travel by car or luxury motorhome (a mode of transport of which I was unaware until Webmaster Geoff mentioned it after the Padiham game).

Doug, Peter and Norman watch Isaac Kusoloka

Only three of us took the train, gathering at Lime Street with crowds on their way to the Grand National in shiny suits that come out only for the races, weddings and christenings; almost as large crowds heading away; and the cleaners assiduously mopping the spot at which Mr Wenger was pictured a few weeks previously making a surprise landing on his Arsenal.

Given Curzon Ashton's form, I was surprised at the attendance of only 199. It is refreshingly transparent, if a little envy inducing, to see how they can afford to sustain a title challenge on relatively small crowds, with their modern function facilities and 3G pitch hire. They also have a decent junior setup, with the under 6s and under 7s playing exhibition games at half time.

I am not sure whether The Nash is a contraction of their name, in the way that in Middle English an apple was a napple (or so it is said, although it is strange that in all languages using the Germanic root, it begins with a vowel, never a "n"), or whether it comes form their former home of National Park.

I took up position behind the goal we were attacking.

Chris McGann (11) passes to Lloyd Balazs

With the home side trapping us largely in our own half, I moved to the large covered terrace at the side of the pitch. Fortunately, the forecast heavy rain did not materialise, as the roof is steeply angled, presenting a large jaw to the south, from which the wind is most often blowing when it rains.

Franny Foy in front of the covered terrace

Being a new ground, with extensive terracing, there are plenty of guides for the horizon - all the terraces are level (perhaps a bit too level, a one or two degree slope may assist water to run off and inhibit the formation of slippery mould), and all the railings are upright. This also makes for an unforgiving background: I had to re-crop a few pictures, and even then I think I was a degree or so out with some.

Craig Haynes

The seats were also good for lining up the frame.

Phil Bannister

Just as winning games against teams in a similar position to ourselves is the way to avoiding relegation, top places will often be decided not by how the top teams perform against each other, but how efficiently they dispatch teams in the lower half of the table, and on the basis of this performance, Curzon Ashton have done this very well.

There was some anticipation online of a championship party in Curzon's following game away to Harrogate Railway Athletic, in the justified anticipation of picking up the points they needed in these two games. It would have been interesting if Darlington had dropped points and the title come to Curzon a game earlier than expected, as there did not seem to be the excitement one would expect in such circumstances. The under 6s entered into the spirit, setting up a chant of "6-0" as I was walking round to the exit, even if they were largely addressing it to each other.

After the game, our group took the new tram into Manchester from the windswept Ashton West stop, where it will surprise no-one familiar with Metrolink to learn that we were among those who "may have to wait up to 24 minutes".

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

Final score: Curzon Ashton 6 Prescot Cables 0