Dive bombed by a seagull

After Prescot Cables' disappointing performance at Ossett Albion, the game in midweek against Lancaster City was ripe for a comeback, and I would be unable to be there to see it. So it proved, with a late goal from Jack Phillips securing the win, and with New Mills' game postponed due to the weather, they would need two wins over and above anything we are able to do in our remaining games to catch us.

The rain had eased off (although not apparently in New Mills) for Holy Saturday and the visit of Scarborough Athletic. This was the fifth year in a row we have been at home on this day, which has been convenient for me, as I can do my bit to help get the church ready for the Easter Vigil in the evening before heading to the game, and, more importantly, get back afterwards for the service.

We started with a fairly overcast sky, so shutter speeds were a bit low.

Liam Hollett - note the motion blur on the ball

We have touched before in these pages on the behaviour of seagulls in various coastal towns, speculating that it depends on whether visitors lead them to expect food from people. A friend in Devon reported one trying to put its beak in his mouth to get at the food he was eating. Gulls in Scarborough, such as the specimen illustrated on the visitors' club badge, have been trained by Yorkshire visitors keen on eating the chips they had paid good money for to go and look for their food in the sea. 

Their team are rather more robust than their seagulls, but scoring was opened by Jack Phillips, carrying on from where he left off in midweek. I did not see much more than in midweek, as one of the opposition was in the way of the camera, although fortunately not in the way of the goal.

Jack Phillips shoots for goal - honest!

There were a couple of opportunities to extend the lead, with Jack shooting over the bar, and Joe Evans having a shot saved.

Joe Evans

The sun came out for the second half.

Andy Harper

James McCulloch's father, Kevin, brings his dog Jazz to games in the warmer weather. She enjoys a run on the gasworks side, but found the stand side a bit more constraining, entertaining us by slipping her lead and running on to the pitch. Eastleigh supporter and groundhopper Callum caught it on film.

No Jazz, you can't chase James, he's one of ours!

Scarborough continued to press, so we were pleased when Jack Phillips struck again 15 minutes from time. I missed this too, a long range shot from the touchline, which seemed to take ages to go in. Unfortunately, this seemed to cause a loss of concentration: it is the time when experienced heads are useful to keep everyone steady. Ryan Blott imposed himself on the landscape with a goal for the visitors just over a minute later.

We were on the back foot after this, although not without opportunities, with James Edgar having the best opportunity but only able to find the goalkeeper.

James Edgar

The visitors seized a point with a last minute goal. We were naturally disappointed not to have held on for a win, but we would have been happy with a point at the beginning of the game, and it makes one more result New Mills need to get to catch us up. Results elsewhere meant that Padiham are now unable to finish outside the relegation positions.

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

Finally, congratulations are due to my refereeing pharmacologist friend James, who has passed his viva for his PhD. Given his passing resemblance to a particular mediaeval monarch, we are glad he did not visit Kings Lynn Town, due to the risk of losing his thesis in the Wash.

Final score: Prescot Cables 2 (Phillips 2) Scarborough Athletic 2