Variably focussed

I wondered how well I would see Prescot Cables' game at Ramsbottom United. This was not because of visibility problems at the Harry Williams Riverside Stadium, or an unusually large crowd blocking the view. I had instead succumbed to age by getting my first pair of varifocals, having heard horror stories from people who had not taken to them. I had no problems, but I can see why they are not for everyone: the distortion in peripheral vision was disconcerting the first time I turned my head and found a bus shelter taking a step towards me.

The leg of the journey from Manchester to Bury was on a single, rather crowded, tram. When Manchester United are at home, the line to Old Trafford snaffles everyone else's trams, which is all very well, but there were still plenty in the depot as we passed. Bury is the home of the black pudding, so I stopped at the market for a Chadwick's Original, with the decent sized pieces of fat.

A train from the East Lancashire Railway's diesel gala was passing as I arrived in Ramsbottom, using one of the last manually operated level crossings in the country, now with lights to stop the traffic before the gates are closed.

The Rammy Ultras banner always brings out my inner Finbarr Saunders.

Fnarr, fnarr

In goal for the hosts was Jack Cookson, who, it is fair to say, did not enjoy the best spell of his career with us at the beginning of last season. Unfortunately for us, he is having a bit of a better time at Ramsbottom, although their match report commented on their defensive frailties.

Things were looking up for us when the hosts conceded an own goal after about 15 minutes. This was to be our only score of the game. Whilst I would not entirely agree with the hosts report commenting that this was our only sustained attack of the game, we are currently having a worrying inability to find the net from open play.

There was some flying on display.

James Edgar takes to the air

Ramsbottom scored shortly before half time, and we were lucky that a second effort a couple of minutes later was disallowed for offside.

By this time I was getting used to the change in my eyewear. It matters what part of the lens you look through, so I was learning to move my head rather than my eyes following the ball. It also matters that you have the glasses on straight and in the same position on your nose every time. That has never bothered me before, and as I tend to pull the camera in to my face, unbalancing my glasses, every time I took it away I found myself with different focus in each eye.

The second half looked destined for stalemate, and so it turned out, with both sides successfully holding the other at bay.

Tom Brocklehurst

Rob Doran

I had planned to visit the Irwell Works Brewery before the game, but my stop for blood based comestibles meant I would have had to rush my pint, so I saved it for after the game. On my last visit, the just opened bar had a whiff of new construction, which has happily cleared up with time. The weather was still pleasant enough to sit on the balcony, where the adjacent group, taking a break from the diesel gala, included one chap who thought the trees were taking over. As he was talking about the lineside on the main line railway, he may have had a point.

The rest of the pictures can be seen on the club website here, and on Google Photos here.

Final score: Ramsbottom United 1 Prescot Cables 1 (og)