Man of the match - eventually

For Prescot Cables' game at home to Brighouse Town, we were joined by Dr Phil, continuing to recruit to the Cables interest, and his friends from Edinburgh, Drs Benny, Tammy and Victoria (at least I think they are all PhDs). Benny had a full day of sport, having risen early to watch the Australian Rules Premiership semi final, where his West Coast Eagles lost 19.11 - 9.4 (I have no idea what that means either, but it sounds grim). He was looking to Cables to redeem the day: not generally a course of action I recommend. Checking the AFL website, I noticed a team nicknamed the Pies, but was disappointed this was short for Magpies, rather than a celebration of pastry encased comestibles.

My photographic day started with some of the players at Poco Coffee, sponsors of the player of the month award and official suppliers to yours truly when the tea bar cannot cut it. As we shot at the outside seats, an elderly couple at a window table looked as though they were thoroughly enjoying photobombing.

We played the first half towards the Safari Park End.

Lloyd Dean

Whilst we had chances, even the photographer with the flimsiest grasp of tactics (that would be me) will notice when most of the play is in your own half. Only a bit more than a third of the collection came from the first half.

There was welcome news at half time, when Danny Flood reported he was back on both feet. I took the chance to get his squad photo.

Danny Flood

Things picked up in the second half, with lots of pace on the wings from Tunde Owolabi and Harry Cain.

Tunde Owolabi

Harry was rewarded with a goal on the hour. When I told him later that I had not got a picture as there were other players in the way, he replied that it was not a particularly good one anyway. That may be the case, but there are no points for style, any goal will do. In any event, I got something.

That is Harry Cain's foot, honest

Although I like the way everyone is looking as the ball goes in, being able to identify the scorer is a requirement for the collection. However, I caught the celebration.

Our Australian visitors (Drs Benny and Tammy) were represented on the field when Joey Faux joined the fray.

Joey Faux

When you have your own banner, it is always good to get a shot with it in the background.

Andy Scarisbrick

Dogs are a regular part of the non league game - there are those who keep a close eye on the action when their human is playing.

Marcus Burgess under observation

We were able to keep some late pressure at bay to secure all three points.

Valter Fernandes applauds the crowd

We had an excellent performance from both wings, but consensus emerged that Harry Cain had earned the man of the match award by virtue of his winning goal. So far, so good, but there was less consensus on who would do the presentation, with my being advised there would not be one. The alternative view prevailed after I had gone that as Harry had won it, it was only fair to present it, which I found out when I was safely settled on the premises of our sponsor, the Sun Inn.

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

Final score: Prescot Cables 1 (Cain) Brighouse Town 0

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)

Some beer left

Prescot Cables held this year's Beer Festival later than in previous years, opting for the Easter weekend. It made sense, particularly with our tenants St Helens Town entertaining City of Liverpool on Good Friday. Arriving early for our Easter Monday game against Bamber Bridge to see if there was any beer left, I met Dr Tony. Mindful of St Paul's advice to the Romans regarding those who esteem one day above another and those who esteem every day alike, we compared notes on Easter. After taking everything out of church for Good Friday, putting it back in scrubbed and polished on Saturday, and services each day, this was the first chance I had for football or beer. Tony is a Baptist, so he had a normal Sunday, with a couple of bank holidays to boot, and had been able to fully enjoy the beer festival.

Before the game, David Williams, who is retiring as match day announcer, and would be unable to attend the presentation evening, was presented with the Dave Brennan Trophy.

David Williams, with his wife Margaret, and Richard Harnetty, his successor as match day announcer

Neither team had league safety concerns or playoff hopes, but, after looking shaky a few weeks ago, last season's points total and league position were in our reach, whilst the visitors had the final of the Integro Cup a couple of days later.

We were fielding a depleted squad, in quantity at least: when I first saw the players warming up, I counted 11, although two substitutes emerged shortly afterwards. We made our final addition for the season, in the shape of Louis Coyne, who joined us before the transfer window closed at the end of March.

Louis Coyne

We were playing in our away kit, having played at Ossett Town on Saturday: we had to use the home kit there, and the laundry is not open over the bank holiday weekend.

Valter Fernandes

We made the better start, and Josh Dolling put us ahead after half an hour.

Josh Dolling

Alistair Waddecar has been remarkably successful at scoring against us: I cannot remember a game against Bamber Bridge in the last few seasons when he has not. I was relieved he was on the bench for this game, and thought our best chance of all three points would be if he were to stay there. This was not to be, and he came on to score ten minutes from time.

Dale Wright takes a throw in, their chap looks very cross

With the late Easter, this was the last home league game of the season, and we could enjoy it with the serious business wrapped up. There was time for the team to pose for pictures with the supporters.

The Rogues & Rascals Barbershop Man of the Match award went to Andy Scarisbrick, a product of our youth team, who seemed to have fallen out of favour earlier in the season, but a change of position has seen him make an impressive return. With the bar full of people enjoying the beer festival, we made the presentation in the Board Room, where we could raise the advertising background high enough to mean I did not need to photoshop bits on to the top.

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

Final score: Prescot Cables 1 (Dolling) Bamber Bridge 1.

Not as warm as it looked

For Prescot Cables' last game of the season, at home to Bamber Bridge, we were joined by the Mayors of Prescot and Knowsley, and by the Member of Parliament for our side of the High Street, George Howarth. My initial assignment was photographing the visiting dignitaries as they were presented to the players. In the presence of the mayors, I was very good, and did not attempt my Larry the Lamb impression.

The Mayor of Prescot meets Andy Paxton

The win away at Ossett Albion earlier in the week allowed for a positive end to the season, ending our run of losses. Although league position was not at stake, we could finish on a positive note and set down a marker for next season.

It was fine and bright, although the weather people told us we were under a system bringing air from the Arctic. One of my favourite bloggers, Matt from the Lost Boyos, who I met a few weeks ago, had gone to AFC Fylde wearing shorts. I mentioned on Twitter that the ground is somewhat open, but he was already there and found out for himself. I was in my trusty, and reasonably warm, sports jacket, but unequipped for a party, or for keeping my head warm, as I had not brought a flat cap.

Marcus Burgess

I started behind the goal we were attacking, then joined members of the Train Crew, who decided to inspect the Gasworks side, so I spent a fair part of the first half around the half way line. Alistair Waddecar has been mentioned in these pages as regularly causing trouble for us, and today was no exception as he scored, after 24 minutes.

James McCulloch

For the half-time entertainment we were we joined again by Dancebeatz Academy so I took a few pictures of the display. The weather and the dance routine lent themselves to still photography more than at the Warrington Town game, so I should have some decent pictures to send them.

For the second half I took my usual position behind the opposition goal of most of the game. A goal from Rob Doran secured a point, to give us our highest tally for three or four years. We had already secured a higher placed finish than the previous season for the first time in about 10 years, all of which we can build on next season.

Rob Doran

After the game, James Edgar received his award as Player of the Month for April. After last month's low resolution photo for the website, I downloaded a raw converter and a photo editor for my phone. This sorted out the resolution problem, but it was not powerful enough to fix the problem of some idiot taking the picture with everyone's back to the window. ... Ah yes, that would be me.

James Edgar receives his award - photo rescued with a proper raw editor

We created a rather better background for the End of Season Awards, as we had sponsorship.

Joe Herbert, Young Player of the Year

The end of the season is always an emotional time: you know next season's team will not be quite the same, although we have been remarkably settled this season, and most looked happy to come back. Congratulations are due to Charlie Duke, who has secured a professional contract with Torquay United. Best wishes are due to Joe Evans, who received an award for 100 appearances, and indicated he is not minded to add to them, as he wants to spend more time with his young son. Then again, I only believe retirements when pre season training is under way, some players have been having a last season for years!

The one, the only, the original Joe Evans

This season's progress on the field has been matched with income generated by our Commercial Manager, Steve Garnett. After the awards, he joined the Train Crew for a chat - a few minutes later we were all £20 lighter and proud owners of squares in the Supporters on the Pitch scheme.

The rest of the pictures from the game can be seen on the club website here, and on Google Photos here - sharp eyed readers can spot which three pictures the Pitchero uploader mysteriously splatted. The pictures from the End of Season Awards can be seen on the club website here, and on Google Photos here.

Final score: Prescot Cables 1 Bamber Bridge 1 (Doran)