Things can only get ... er ...

Travelling to Prescot Cables' game away at Trafford, I was in the right part of the city to use Liverpool Central, and some tunnels where in the 1880s there had been a spate of fatal accidents. A number of men (they were all men) had been killed striking the tunnel wall or an oncoming train. It transpired at the inquests that they had been leaning out of the window, or in some cases clinging to the outside of the train, to observe "courting couples" in the adjacent compartment.

Believe me, that is as jolly as the evening gets.

I arrived just in time for the start of Joe Gibiliru's first, and it transpired, only, game of his current stint in charge of the first team. The event was facing stiff competition for the attention of the busy Urmston resident: Army Cadets were busy drilling next door, and bell ringers were practising about half a mile away.

It was overcast, so the floodlights were needed from the start. I remember on my last visit for an evening game, the floodlights were partially obstructed by trees, Most of the branches now appear to have been cut back, apart from on one specimen. The pitch is close to the perimeter fence on two sides of the ground, with a substantial gap on the other two.

There was a welcome return by Andy Harper from last season ...

... and by Franny Foy, who has played a couple of spells for the club in the past.

This picture neatly illustrates the problem with floodlights, unless you have 15 or 20 heads, you always have pools of light. Here, Franny is in the shadow, and the player in the background, Jonah O'Reilly, is fully illuminated.

Our play in the first half was encouraging: although we conceded two goals, one was a controversial penalty, and our team were visibly keeping formation. It would be a struggle, but at half time, if confidence continued to improve, a point was not inconceivable.

Sam Gifford

There was also news that our new manager would be announced the following day. If I had taken a break from my half time salmon and egg sandwich (I always go for fine dining in south Manchester, and it was reduced in Sainsbury's) to go to the stand side, I would probably have found out more.

Unfortunately, the hosts claimed the game shortly after half time, with three goals in as many minutes. I am not in the habit of leaving games early, but had the gate nearest to the station been open, I might have called it an evening, as there was a train due. As it was, I watched a confidence sapping defeat with Trafford scoring three more goals. Some were able to keep going, with Phil Bannister taking a shot that, had it been a couple of inches lower would have provided a consolation, and been the goal of the game.

Phil Bannister aims for goal

The announcement of the new manager indeed came the following day, although, as we are currently relying on the League for official announcements, at the unusual time of 1am. We have appointed Andy Paxton, who kept goal for us in the 2009-10 season, and has most recently been coaching at Skelmersdale United. He will be assisted by Steve Pilling, formerly of Atherton Collieries. This is a positive appointment, Andy knows the club well, has good experience in our League, and will be looking to make an impression in his first managerial appointment - and is probably best placed to address our most urgent problem in defence.

Andy Paxton playing for Cables in 2010

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

Final score: Trafford 8 Prescot Cables 0.