It's Thursday, it must be the Cup

Prescot Cables' game against Litherland Remyca in the Liverpool Senior Cup came sooner than expected. We anticipated playing away the following week, but the County FA insisted on bringing it forward, and, as Litherland Sports Park was not available, we were hosting. Both sides had our leagues to think about: we were guaranteed a playoff place, but wanted to aim for home advantage, and Remyca were looking at automatic promotion in the North West Counties. Not that either side took the evening anything less than seriously, a realistic chance of silverware is a realistic chance of silverware.

We started with a minute's applause for Andy Maund, in whose memory we dedicated the match. Andy lived next to the ground, was a regular supporter home and away, and sadly died suddenly the previous weekend at the age of 46.

We gave two of our Youth team players some first team experience. Matthew Kewn and Dominic Murphy both played against Bootle in the First Round. Getting everyone in the picture at an evening game can be a bit hit and miss, and I was happy with the number of pictures I got of Matthew.

Matthew Kewn

I was a bit less happy with how much I was able to see of Dominic, but it would turn out he would earn an individual picture later.

It was fine evening, with a relaxed crowd, and overcoats left at home.

An occupational hazard of being a goalkeeper is that we only need one, so if you are injured you can find your replacement does so well he commands the place. Such a fate befell Marcus Burgess in the autumn, with Ben Barnes taking a regular place and Marcus on loan at Padiham. With seven games in fifteen days, we need all hands on deck, so we welcomed Marcus back.

Marcus Burgess

We opened the scoring with a penalty after about half an hour. I got the impression we might not have discussed beforehand who would take them. Harry Cain yielded to Dan Burns, who converted with ease.

Dan Burns

In the second half, it seemed as though the game was flagging a bit. I was sitting in front of the main body of our supporters for the first few minutes, and it was a bit like a crowded beer garden, with the dominant sound being of conversation.

Harry Cain brought the crowd back to life with a goal at 70 minutes.

Harry Cain shoots for goal ...

... and celebrates

A second goal from Harry ten minutes later made the result secure.

Dominic Murphy rounded off the scoring just before full time to complete a performance that won the Man of the Match award, presented by Andy Maund's father, Billy. The first attempt at a picture was unsuccessful, when we spotted he was in his Youth team training top - nothing says you have arrived quite like retaking your presentation photo in a First team 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 4 (Burns pen, Cain 2, Murphy) Litherland Remyca 0.

And your goalkeeper this week is ...

When I arrived in Goole, I visited a Polish food shop for a bottle of water. I was not familiar with the brands, but the flavoured one with a lime on the label caught my eye. The manufacturers' drawing was as good as my Polish, and it turned out to be apple, but quite pleasant anyway. Once at the Victoria Pleasure Grounds, I headed to the tea bar to make sure I did not miss out on their excellent steak pie. Whilst I was tucking in, club secretary Dan Roberts briefed me. Our goalkeepers have been somewhat injury prone since stand in Charlie Whittingham was unable to complete his game with the club a few weeks ago. With Marcus Burgess recovering from a knee injury, Ben Barnes looked to be settling in well, but he was injured at work in the week, so we had another replacement in the shape of Ben Purdham from Curzon Ashton.

Ben Purdham

Before the game, I discussed camera positions with video camera operator Josh, who is with us for the video analysis module of his sports science degree. For video, particularly for analysis, the ideal position is looking down on the pitch, which is not really possible at Goole, so he set up on the edge of the grass just inside the running track. For me, it is a case of the lower the better, so I sat on the running track by the side of the pitch.

Jordan Southworth

Although I thought this would be a better surface than the grass, as it was not damp, it is quite rough, which makes it difficult to turn with the action, necessary when shooting from the side.

After 15 minutes I went behind the goal, where I had to sit on the grass, better surface or not.

For the last fifteen minutes of the half I swapped sides. The home goal was kept busy.

Joe Herbert has an attempt on goal

Lloyd Dean opened the scoring.

Lloyd Dean shoots for goal

Baba Conteh is first to join in the celebrations

A goal from Jordan Southworth gave us a good cushion at half time.

It is not often you see a ship peeping above the clubhouse.

The sun had set by the start of the second half, but with little cloud there was enough light for me to spend the first ten minutes behind the goal.

Jordan Wynne and a Class 158

I then moved in front of a floodlight, where I found the light to be surprisingly good - the pylons were outside the running track, so I was sitting in more light than I am accustomed to. The hosts were playing well in the second half, and were rewarded with a goal twenty minutes in. Places at the top of the table are often decided by the efficiency with which teams deal with those at the bottom. Over the last few seasons we have inflicted a few surprises on those at the top. However, our current form has put us in a playoff place, and it looked for a while as if Goole might be able take their turn to snatch a point. However, two goals in quick succession from Jordan Wynne in the last couple of minutes secured the result.

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

Final score: Goole AFC 1 Prescot Cables 4 (Dean, Southworth, Wynne 2)

More goalkeepers than games

If I get behind updating these pages, sometimes events conspire to pinch a perfectly good gag. We will look at that later, but I arrived early for our Non League Day game in the FA Trophy at home to Trafford to catch a couple of players for their squad photos. I found Marcus Burgess, suspended after a dubious red card the previous week, assisting his replacement, Charlie Whittingham from Chorley, to acclimatise to his new goal.

Charlie Whittingham

The programme marked James McCulloch's 300th game for the club in midweek.

The Youth Team secured a superb victory in the FA Youth Cup in midweek, 3-1 against FC United of Manchester after extra time. I had been on hand aiming to capture the occasion, but the rain was the fine swirling type that gets under the camera cover and everywhere else, and has a worse effect even than fog on the pictures. Having drowned a camera in similar conditions a couple of years ago, I was not keen to repeat the experience, so I gave up after 20 minutes. The results of my limited efforts can be seen here.

FA Youth Cup v FC United of Manchester

As the rain started to fall this time, I feared I might have the same problem. However, this turned out to be a good honest downpour. With little wind, the rain was coming straight down, and a lot bounced off the camera cover and my clothes, although I must visit a waterproof trouser emporium. It is weather you can see.

Valter Fernandes

Baba Conteh opened the scoring after ten minutes with his first competitive goal for the club. I got what would have been quite a good shot, if he had been facing the other way!

Baba Conteh shoots for goal

The visitors came back and equalised through James Dean. However, more concerning events occurred a few minutes later, when Charlie Whittingham was injured in a collision. Although he carried on, as he limped off at half time we were concerned, justifiably, whether he would be able to play the second half. Reporting Lloyd Dean's spell in goal last week, I lined up a comment that I was surprised it was not Andy Scarisbrick, as he had played more or less everywhere else. My turn of phrase was overtaken by events when Andy once again demonstrated he is the man to send for when you need a gap filled without fuss, taking up position as our fourth goalkeeper in three games.

Goalkeeping coach Garry Williams briefs Andy Scarisbrick

With another goalkeeper getting used to the position, attack was the best form of defence, and we put ourselves ahead with a goal from Josef Faux twenty minutes in.

Josef Faux celebrates his goal

Lloyd Dean marked his 100th appearance with a goal four minutes later.

Lloyd Dean celebrates his goal

Solid work in defence and what Gareth Roberts of The Anfield Wrap called "some predictably unorthodox - but effective - goalkeeping" kept a clean sheet.

Defending in numbers

The Roanza Mercedes Truck and Van Man of the Match award went to Harry Cain for a tireless performance.

Harry Cain

I was a little confused as to whether we would also present the Player of the Month award, but no-one knew how to access the result, which is probably just as well, as voting was still going on.

The rest of the pictures from the game can be seen on the club website in reverse order here, and on Google Photos the right way round here.

Final score: Prescot Cables 3 (Conteh, Faux, Dean) Trafford 1.

The 90 degree goal scoring opportunity

Last weekend, Prescot Cables entertained Ossett Albion, who had not enjoyed a good start to the season. The weather was not particularly pleasant, with intermittent rain. I took up position on my polyethylene cushion, and turned those thoughts that were not on the game and avoiding being accidentally clattered to the desirability of new kit, namely waterproof trousers.

Programme editor Gareth Coates asked if I could crop a couple of pictures of club captain James McCulloch with a bit of extra space above his head so one could go on the cover for the following week's programme, marking his 300th appearance, which, all being well, would take place at Bamber Bridge in midweek. Fortunately, as he pointed out to me waiting in the tunnel, he was sporting a smart new haircut.

James McCulloch

We were attacking towards the Safari Park End. Once again, we scored before I was ready, with a goal from Alan Burton. Even when I tried to get the celebration, everyone was heading back to our own half.

Alan Burton

We looked to be having the better of the game until Marcus Burgess fell to an occupational hazard of goalkeeping, being sent off for handling outside his area.

Marcus Burgess in his area

The Laws of the Game are quite specific: the goalkeeper outside his penalty area is subject to the same handling restrictions as other players, so should only be sent off if handling denies a goal or obvious goal scoring opportunity. Leaving aside the question of whether the handball was deliberate, for which my view was obstructed, the foul occurred next to the goal line at the edge of the penalty area, so if anyone scored from there, Ossett Albion's goal of the season committee could pack up for a few months, knowing their work was done. Even a yellow card for handling to break up a promising attack would have been stretching it. Visiting goalkeeper Brett Souter clearly agreed, as he trotted over to shake Marcus' hand as he left the field.

Most teams at this level do not keep a goalkeeper on the bench, as such a player would go for weeks without playing Saturday football. An outfield player will need to go in goal, and the lot fell to Lloyd Dean.

Lloyd Dean in his accustomed position ...

... and in goal.

A player who is not keeping goal regularly will take time to get used to the position, and whilst our defence protected well, we could not avoid the hosts scoring just before half time. We seemed more confident in the second half, with Lloyd growing in confidence and making some good saves in a Roanza Truck and Van Man of the Match winning performance.

I split my time in the second half, about half in front of the covered standing at the Eaton Street End, from where I seem to get a lot of good angles...

Josef Faux

... and the rest in the more lively position (with balls and players flying in my direction) in front of the fence on the Gasworks Side.

Tunde Owolabi

After some good play at both ends, we secured a point from a game that looked precarious half an hour in.

The rest of the pictures from the game can be seen on the club website here (Pitchero displaying the most recent first again, grr), and on Google Photos here.

Final score: Prescot Cables 1 (Burton) Ossett Albion 1

Greeting old friends

Prescot Cables' game at home to Burscough was something of a reunion, with a number of our former players - Ben Morrow, Jonah O'Reilly, Phil Bannister, Josh Nicholson and Rob Doran - appearing for the visitors. There were former players in the crowd too, including Joe Evans, who has been trying his hand (well, both hands) at boxing with some success, and Jack Phillips, who looks to be out for some time with a torn anterior cruciate ligament. Also joining us was Jack's brother Anthony, who completed a 10k walk the previous weekend to raise money for the Seddon Unit at St Helens Hospital, where he received treatment following his stroke this time last year. Not having seen him for a few months it was great to see for myself the progress in his recovery he has reported online.

Jonah O'Reilly

Phil Bannister

Rob Doran goes for a header with Joe Herbert

The game would have consequences for both clubs. Failure to win for Burscough would confirm the relegation that has looked inevitable for some time, whereas a loss for us would considerably increase our chances of joining them.

Marcus Burgess has been selected for the England Universities squad, who I think are playing in April, so I was concerned which games he would be missing. I need not have worried, as we have secured the services of Nosakhere Aghayere, who impressed me in our games against Colne.

Nosakhere Aghayere

We were also without James Doyle and Jordan Wynne, representing Knowsley Youth in the Dallas Cup. Chris Almond carried on where he left off at the weekend with a goal after half an hour, and a second just before half time.

Chris Almond with Josh Nicholson

We had taken a firm grip on the game, but we had seen against Goole a few days previously what could happen to a two goal lead against determined opposition, so I felt we could do with a third. Dale Wright duly obliged on the hour.

A few minutes later, James Edgar was brought down for a penalty, with Dale Wright stepping up to take it. Ben Morrow's first touch in Senior football was to save a penalty, but he was without luck this evening. To cap it all, the picture I thought I had of a rather good save he made later came out too blurred to use.

Ben Morrow

Unfortunately, towards the end of the game, Dominic Reid sustained an ankle ligament injury that looks as though it has ended his season, so we hope he makes a full recovery over the summer.

Dominic Reid

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 4 (Almond 2, Wright 2 (1 pen)) Burscough 0

Nineteen

It was only some fortuitously placed roadworks on the way from Northwich Station to Witton Albion, where Northwich Victoria play, that made me think twice before confidently heading off down the wrong road. Once going in the right direction, the hiss from the outdoor steam pipe trunk distribution venue seemed louder than in November, although it is not yet emitting anything visible. For those who like football with industry in the background, Witton offers a suitable vista. I am not sure whether this is where they generate the steam, or if they pipe it in.

I usually look for a team sheet, but I do not make an exhaustive search, as someone usually puts it online, and I only need it after the game for captions. Had I seen one, I would have noticed something I had been anticipating for some weeks. With the proviso that I do not know the exact age of James Burke, standing in for Marcus Burgess, I was confident that, for the first time, I had been watching the club since before the starting lineup had been born. Not only that, but the average age of the outfield (and I think this applied to the whole XI, James Burke did not look that old) was 19, which I do not recall seeing before.

With four games in eight days, we needed to spread resources, so it made sense to put out some younger players, particularly those playing their first season at this level, for a full 90 minutes against strong opposition.

Andy Scarisbrick

Connor Grainger - returning from representing Knowsley in the Dallas Cup

After five minutes, Danny Flood was injured and replaced by James McCulloch - who was about 6 months old when I started watching, and just took the average back into the 20s.

The hosts scored twice in the first 20 minutes, and we were not without chances, with Rob Doran and James Edgar having the ball gathered from their feet, and Rob having a penalty turned down after being pushed over in mid air. We pulled one back shortly before half time. I am not sure what the sight of Rob Doran considering his options for a free kick does to the opposition but it scares me!

In this case, he elected to go directly for goal. The perimeter fence is some distance back from the goal line, which means I need to be near the corner flag to get a decent angle without the net in the way. The reward is being able to get a shot like this.

There was a presence from the landlords at half time, maintaining their playing surface.

In the second half, the hosts showed they had no intention of letting the game slip, with three goals in a ten minute spell. Despite the game being out of reach, we were still looking for goals with a second consolation coming from James Edgar.

James Edgar

When I reported back to my friend Roger, I managed to add another to the opposition tally. It may have been to do with not having had much to eat or drink due to a slight bug, being dehydrated, lacking carbs, and rustling up goals as a figment of my imagination. I did the same at Farsley at the beginning of the year. This time I did not even have a disallowed goal to explain it, the balance for that having been with us.

This was another in a run of games against teams challenging for the playoff positions, in which the hosts remain secure despite having had points deducted for fielding an ineligible player earlier in the season.

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

Final score: Northwich Victoria 5 Prescot Cables 2 (Doran, Edgar).

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.