Finishing on a high

I was a bit concerned when I learnt that Prescot Cables' presentation evening was to be after our game away at Radcliffe Borough. It was announced after the game against Goole, so there was the possibility that if we needed a result in this game and did not get it, people might be reluctant to attend. As it was, we had a good run in, so stakes were considerably lower, with the possibilty of a result at a ground where we have not often done well, and surpassing last season's points total.

I am not a big fan of the tram to Radcliffe: it has had reliability issues in the past, and involves a 20 minute walk, all uphill, whereas the bus stops just outside the ground. However, as I thought I might need to make a swift return to Prescot for the awards, and the bus is a bit slow, I took an unusually punctual tram, sampling the new second city crossing, where the ride was smoother than I was expecting.

We welcomed back our two members of the Knowsley Under 19 side who were runners up in the Dallas Cup: James Doyle ...

... and captain Jordan Wynne.

I did not notice who won the toss, but it is said you should play with conditions in the first half rather than anticipating a benefit in the second. That is true with the weather, as a wind can change, but a slope will still be there after half time. Either way, the hosts were playing downhill in the first half.

Marcus Burgess gathers from Conor Ready, with the Dugout Irregulars ready to repel boarders

Chris Almond opened the scoring after 20 minutes.

Chris Almond scores our first goal

There was no indication at half time that this would be a particularly high scoring game, but conditions started to work for us. Jordan Wynne scored our second three minutes into the half.

Celebrating Jordan Wynne's goal

I am not sure why this is known as a bicycle kick, my knowledge of cycling is limited, but I know that adopting this posture in the saddle does not produce the desired result.

Lloyd Dean

Next to score was Josh Dolling, with a shot from the edge of the area rolling gently, with some assistance from gravity, into the far side of the net.

Josh Dolling

As the game was a couple of weeks ago (it was a busy end to the season), I checked the league website to remind me of the scorers, but records diverge from the actuality at this point. Fortunately Glyn had once again travelled to provide the video, so I could watch the goals again. Jordan Wynne is credited with the fourth goal, but Chris Almond put it past the reach of Radcliffe's Kris Leigh.

The hosts scored a consolation goal from a penalty, for which I was too far away to see the foul. The final goal came from James Doyle, but was credited on the league website to Joe Herbert, who was on the bench for the whole game - his reward for a season's reliable hard work was yet to come!

Joe Herbert

I feared that I would be in a race to get back in time for the awards, with doors opening at 7pm, but the event was structured to keep people using the bar, with local band The Contenders performing their first set at 8pm before the presentations. I have never tried photographing a band before, but they were happy with the results.

Awards on the field went to James McCulloch, Supporters' and Players' Player of the Year; James Edgar, Manager's Player of the Year; Lloyd Dean, Goal of the Season (I think against Glossop North End); and Jordan Wynne, Young Player of the Year.

Lloyd Dean, James McCulloch and James Edgar

Awards off the field (whilst all those recognised are worthy winners who have provided excellent service to the club over the year, I can never remember what the actual awards are formally for) went to Harry Molyneux, Ronnie Williams, Robbie Williams, and to Lynda Derbyshire and the bar team.

Lynda and Michelle receive the George Hayward Trophy on behalf of the bar team

I also had a pleasant surprise, in the shape of a bottle from the players for my pictures (especially those that have ended up as profile pictures). Coach Roy Grundy took a picture, but it did not make it into the collection, as it was a bit too soft focus!

The rest of the pictures from the game can be seen on the club website here, and on Google Photos here; those from the presentation evening on the club website here, and on Google Photos here; and some extra pictures of The Contenders are available here.

Final score: Radcliffe Borough 1 Prescot Cables 5 (Almond 2, Wynne, Dolling, Doyle)