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)