Putting a couple past the Class of 92

There are a number of ways to get to Salford City, where Prescot Cables were playing in the Preliminary Round of the FA Trophy. There are bus routes along the main road passing Moor Lane, and the 93, a local bus for local people, going to the other end. Last time I used it, the driver pretended not to have heard of Moor Lane, despite the bus travelling along it, and the stop being named in the timetable. This time I had a Plusbus ticket, which solved that problem, but the driver claimed not to know what it was, then asked for the "other bit", saying, "when I see these tickets (so he had heard of them), they are in two parts - you did not just pay £3.70 for this one". Having established he meant the railway ticket, I got my wallet out, at which point he decided he did not need it after all. It would have been easier to say, "There's nothing for you here".

The team bus had its own issues, with a bird flying in to the windscreen on the M62. Some mentioned a pigeon, with Neil Prince and Sam Corlett opting for a pheasant - an important question, as the cooking times are completely different. Applying half remembered physics to the "spider's web" on the windscreen, and the Daily Telegraph letters page (many of whose readers know a thing or two about pheasants) reporting birds suicidally diving onto the road, I am going with Neil and Sam.

This was our first visit to Salford since the club changed ownership. The first noticeable change was the programme, with last season's title of Tangerine Barmy replaced by Red Ammie, in recognition of the change of playing colours. There were also television cameras used by the University of Salford to produce highlights packages and footage for a possible BBC programme at the end of the season.

Sam Corlett gets on telly (possibly)

Liam Dodd's welcome return from injury allowed James McCulloch to move to midfield, which many feel is his best position. Of course, a player's best position is not necessarily where he will end up, if he is the best player available who can play somewhere else.

Liam Dodd

James McCulloch

I started on the Moor Lane side, but the sun came out after about 5 minutes, so moved round to my more usual position behind the goal. Salford took the lead after half an hour with a shot from the edge of the penalty area that left Ciaran Gibson no chance. We continued to press, and were rewarded just before half time, when a scramble to get on the end of a corner led to the ball falling to Antony Shinks, who forcefully put it in the net.

Antony Shinks scores - picture included on the "goal is a goal" principle

The second half provided easier conditions for me, with the sun behind me. As the half progressed, Neil Prince brought on fresh legs, replacing Antony Shinks with Mason Ryan, and Sam Corlett with himself, a combination that paid off in the 75th minute, when a pass from Neil Prince ...

 ... found an advancing Mason Ryan ...

... who neatly put it away.

The upset got us a nomination for Non League Review's Team of the Week, coming in second in the popular vote to Colne FC. You cannot mention everyone in a post like this, and it is always easy to concentrate on the goal scorers, but this was a superb team performance, in which everyone played their part.

Defending a free kick

After the game, I headed to the other end of Moor Lane, and caught the 98, which goes along the main road, and is therefore familiar with carrying strangers. My ticket was accepted without demur.

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

Final score: Salford City 1, Prescot Cables 2 (Shinks, Ryan)

Victoria victorious

Last Tuesday saw Prescot Cables travel to Northwich Victoria, who play at Flixton, a common destination in our days in the North West Counties League. The nearest station is Irlam, but that has the problem of a large ship canal in the way (which can lead the ground to feel a bit damp) and no convenient bridge. It is, however, easy enough to get to if you do not mind a bit of exercise, being 35 minutes' walk from Urmston and 20 from Flixton: there are buses, but not conveniently timed for evening games.

Andy Griffiths

They have lighting I have not seen anywhere else, with pylons a third of the way along the goal line, which produces a squashed, sideways version of my little diagrams. I can therefore take up my normal daytime position behind the goal we are attacking, although I cannot expect the camera to capture clearly much further than the half way line, a bit like when I started taking pictures with a 18-55mm lens.

Phil Bannister at the outer end of the camera's range

We have seen on our previous visit that the lights are good, with remarkably little leakage to surrounding properties, complaints about which are a major objection to planning permission for new installations.

Sam Corlett

We had the better of the game in the first half, and had a couple close shots, but sent them over the bar, dispatching the stewards into the overgrown waste land behind the ground. The substitutes warming up at half time fared no better - there is now a ball in a tree that is probably staying there until the ground is hard enough for someone to get up a seppblatter, er, sorry, a stepladder, with a broom handle to dislodge it.

Joe Evans, Callam Gardner and Yunus Giwa warm up

Having missed our best chances in the first half, despite remaining, in the words of the hosts' report on their website, determined and spirited, we succumbed to their physical strength and organisation, going down by two goals without reply.

Not that we were left without entertainment, James McCulloch's father made an innocuous observation about the speed with which a home player got up after play had been stopped for his injury. This upset a gentleman on the balcony, who asked three or four times, at a volume audible to most of the ground, "Are you a doctor?". He then offered the opinion, "Manchester's loads better than Liverpool - where do you do your shopping?", and finished up with, "And what happened to Brookside, eh? Coronation Street's still going".

One of the last pictures of Jack Phillips at 20

Finally, this blog would like to extend belated birthday wishes to Jack Phillips, who turned 21 the day after the game, which surprised a few of us, we thought he was younger. 21 was once the age at which you could vote, own property, etc., but that was reduced to 18 a couple of years after I was born. In the intervening period, even the age for things like standing for elected office has been reduced. Still, it remains a reason for a celebration, although not too wild, it is in the season after all.

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

Final score: Northwich Victoria 2, Prescot Cables 0

The Quakers claim their oats

Prescot Cables' fixtures against Darlington 1883 were among the highlights of last season, a well attended game at Bishop Auckland, the return visit coinciding with our beer festival, and an unexpected point from both. This season's home game had been scheduled for a Tuesday in February - a long trip in midweek for the visitors, at a time lacking either early enthusiasm or the excitement of a push for the title or playoff places. However, with both clubs being out of the FA Cup, it made sense to get the fixture played before the inevitable weather related postponements.

Our guests contributed to a crowd of 361, with healthy numbers frequenting the bar, which was augmented by a table selling bottled beers. Their transport included two coaches, although we once needed something more substantial, as reported in the July issue of Back Track, the historical railway magazine, as part of an article about the introduction of Diesel traction on the Liverpool - Wigan lines with some decent pictures of local locations before modernisation.

A rarer football special ran from Prescot in November 1959 when Prescot Cables managed to reach the first round proper of the FA Cup and were drawn at the then Third Division North Darlington. The chartered train arrived at Prescot behind a tender-first 'Crab' 2-6-0, reversed in Shaw Street station, crossed the Pennines over Standedge to Leeds and, after re-engining with a B1, took the Leeds Northern route through Ripon and Northallerton. Arrival at Darlington Bank Top was late, missing the first goal of which there were plenty, all in the Cables net.

Our visitors have changed away colour (more green!) since our last meeting, but continue the medical theme with their charitable sponsorship, supporting the Great North Air Ambulance.

Rob Doran

The first half was overcast but dry, and we were playing towards the Hope Street end, so I took up my usual position, where an old base for the cover that used to extend the full width of the end provides a handy makeshift seat, with a view down the wing...

Mason Ryan

.. and to our own goal.

Ciaran Gibson

Their photographer brought his own furniture, but, given that the distance between the goal line and the perimeter fence is about as short as is allowed (when the Laws of the Game referred to a photographers' line, the fence would have been in front of it), if I had been sitting there, I would have donned a bit of high vis.

All lenses are trained on Antony Shinks

The sun came out for the second half: with its being low in the sky at this time of year, the stand casts a deep shadow, with the usual lighting challenges.

Jonah O'Reilly

There was to be no repeat of the results of last season, Darlington's well organised team scoring once in each half (that from the first half being one of the better ones we will see all season).

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

Final result: Prescot Cables 0, Darlington 1883 2.

Scuba in the Betting League

I find it useful in sports photography to give the game in front of me my full and undivided attention. As I do not generally follow any professional clubs to the extent of wanting to know live scores, this is not too difficult. However, this weekend was the end of the season for Ykkönen, the Finnish first division, who play a summer season: imagine the frozen pitches if they did not. A few weeks ago, it looked as though the club I occasionally watch, HIFK of Helsinki, would have had a good season back in the division, but KTP of Kotka were 11 points clear at the top. By this weekend HIFK were only two points behind.

I was therefore combining watching Prescot Cables' game at New Mills with following HIFK on Twitter- in Finnish. Mr Google translates the name of the club (short for Helsingfors Idrottsföreningen Kamraterna) as SCUBA, and Veikkausliiga (the Premier League, sponsored by the Lottery operator) as the Betting League. Readers will gather from the surreal title that a 4-2 win for HIFK and a 1-1 draw for KTP put HIFK in the top division, in which they last played in 1972, having played in Nelonen, the fifth level (equivalent in standard to county league football) as recently as 2005.

At our game, one or two thought our new kit looked very smart, until they realised it was the home team's. Their goalkeeper had a shirt of a similar design, in a slightly garish colour combination.

Goalmouth action in the second half

We welcomed back Antony Shinks, who had briefly been at Warrington Town, and who added experience to the defence, in which we can safely say we have been looking for the best combination for the last few games, particularly with Liam Dodd still injured.

Antony Shinks

As in the past, we were playing downhill in the first half. I am not sure who won the toss on each occasion, and whether the home team prefer this arrangement, but they are well able to take advantage, and make sure that visitors expend plenty of effort chasing the ball uphill.

The weather was better than we were expecting - after a mild and dry September, normal Autumn service resumed literally overnight - the Met Office app showed the temperature dropping at a degree an hour. There had been heavy rain in the morning, but the pitch seemed to have drained well enough. We had been expecting it to rain all day, but the clouds cleared in time for the game.

The trees on the stand side provided some uneven shadows.

Joe Evans

With games in Finland finishing at our half time, I could then concentrate on the game in hand. New Mills had a good chance to score just after half time, which could have delivered a decisive advantage, but they hit the post. After this, we seemed to take more control. Older readers will reminisce about the days you were allowed to score from this situation.

Sam Corlett is denied by Ryan Pugh

My mother always used to say that if you want a job doing, do it yourself. I was never convinced by this, and it is not the best way of thinking in a team game. However, we were pleased to see Neil Prince once again has the option of playing himself, as he scored some good goals in pre season before dislocating his shoulder. He wasted no time in opening the scoring.

Neil Prince sets off for goal

The Laws of the Game specify shin pads as a mandatory part of the player's equipment. I am not aware of any regulations on the strength of materials to be used, or the area to be covered, so there is a variety available, from simple plastic through to something from Isambard Kingdom Brunel. Callam Gardner uses a design that looks as though it provides a lot of protection for a fairly small part of the shin.

Callam Gardner is watched by Neil Black, and by James Cairns supporting the team

Whatever he was wearing, he added to the score a few minutes later to make the result secure.

Although the first half could have gone either way, the second half was a good performance, coming back after the disappointment at Brighouse, and pulling ourselves ahead of or hosts in the table.

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

Final score: New Mills 0, Prescot Cables 2 (Prince, Gardner)

Spennymoor, Bridlington, Brighouse, Town

Prescot Cables' recent itinerary has resembled a line from It's Grim Up North, an occupational hazard at this time of year: a couple of rounds of the FA Cup can leave you with a long run of away games. I therefore had mixed feelings when our game at Brighouse Town was brought forward from November to fill a date made vacant by our scheduled opponents still being in the Cup. It is a new ground for us - even Cliff, who has supported Cables since 1959, said he had never been there as he cheerfully contemplated the prospect, and playing now means there is little risk of a weather related postponement. On the other hand, this was the fifth weekend away in six weeks (with another to come next week), two of those being our longest away trips.

Some of our party wanted to watch Liverpool v Everton, so Richie, our leader in beer and pub choices, called ahead. The Barge, near the station, met our requirements - showing the game and serving real ale. They are Brighouse Town's shirt sponsor, and we were greeted by the club's impressively bearded kit man working behind the bar.

Phil Bannister, and the Brighouse kit

On arrival at the ground, we found a cheerful set of officials and volunteers, and a refreshingly non corporate sign.

The Train Crew assemble, having taken three different combinations of trains - photo by Brighouse's car park steward

The ground is quite compact, with cover, seated and standing, along most of one side. The only snag was the lack of a barrier between the main and training pitches, allowing a stray ball to travel even further than our own gasworks side. However, they had a ready supply of spares to stop this delaying the restart of play.

The game started well enough, with a goal from Sam Corlett.

Peter, Ken and Cliff consider Sam Corlett's options

It did not seem too much of a concern when Brighouse equalised, something from which we are more than capable of coming back. However, it went downhill from there, with a performance we would all rather forget, co-ordination seemed to have completely disappeared. When one player is having a bad day, the manager can make a substitution, but when the team is doing so, choices become more difficult. James McCulloch would not have been most people's first choice to substitute on individual grounds 30 minutes into the game, but it meant Phil Bannister took over as captain, with the possibility that this might change the team dynamic. I am not sure how effective this is likely to be, and it did not work on this occasion, but I can see the logic, if that was indeed the intention.

Half time, with the score at 3-1, provided probably the last chance to turn things around, and when Brighouse scored their fourth goal, my travelling companions adjourned to the Old Pond public house. I do not think I have ever left a game early on the ground of performance, although my attention was starting to wander.

I have found five weeks out of six on the road a bit of a bind. However, I do not have to train in midweek, I can travel at a time of my own choosing and relax before and after the game, an option not available to the players, so in my photos and posts I try to reflect the effort and commitment involved in playing for the club, even on an off day. So, here goes for a positive point. With the score standing at 6-1 in the final minute of normal time, our hosts let their guard slip, and Matty West was ready to pounce with a consolation goal.

Matty West

Having had one pleasant surprise, there was another thirty seconds after the restart, this time from Sam Corlett. Even when we have not been playing well, we play to the final whistle, and I believe in not neglecting goal difference - provided we can pick ourselves up and get the points of which I know we are capable.

Having rejoined the others in the Old Pond, a number headed to the town centre for post match refreshment, including in the Old Ship, a local landmark, so called because it was once rebuilt using timbers from, er, an old ship, HMS Donegal, broken up in 1925.

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

Final result: Brighouse Town 6, Prescot Cables 3 (Corlett 2, West)