Greyscale

When I was about ten I attended a children's exhibition at Alexandra Palace in London. At one stall you could make your own abstract painting, squeezing some paint on to paper that was spun on a turntable and came out with abstract patterns. I have never had strong fingers, and was concerned I had not applied much paint, but it came out well, with distinct blocks of colour, whereas other children, who had used much more paint, ended up with it all merging into a monochrome blob.

I wondered whether the designer of Kendal Town's kit for their visit to Prescot Cables used a similar process, putting the black and white of their home kit on the turntable and ending up with mid grey. They had a thought for those wearing replica shirts walking or cycling on rural roads by including fluorescent numbers and advertising, ensuring they were visible at night.

Sam Staunton-Turner

I had missed a couple of games, Easter commitments meaning I was unable to travel to South Shields, and the weather enforced change of date at Colwyn Bay clashing with other arrangements. I wondered whether we might need to squeeze this fixture into a rapidly closing window, as it had rained heavily in the morning. A declared crowd of 146 suggested many people came to the same conclusion and stayed indoors to watch Liverpool in European action, and the number who looked to be present suggested that included a few season ticket holders. However, whilst the area around the tunnel was predictably soft, the Gasworks Side was surprisingly firm. The linesmen were on the opposite sides to the usual arrangement: I thought his might be because of the weather, but I think the referee, Mr Buxton, may just prefer that arrangement.

We had matching goalkeepers, which strictly speaking you are not supposed to, but I have never seen both get close enough, even when one goes up for a last minute corner, to make it an issue.

Ben Barnes

Matthew Johnson

Given that, whilst were still in some sort of daylight, the colour of the sky matched the visitors' kit without the bright bits, I knew the light would play havoc with my exposures. There is not much you cannot fix, but it means processing all the images, including the raw conversion, manually.

Reece McNally

This was my first opportunity to see recent signing Morgan Homson-Smith in action.

Morgan Homson-Smith

I occasionally practice rolling into a ball if it looks as though I am about to be between a player and the pitch perimeter, mainly to protect the camera, but also to make sure the player does not collide at full speed with a protruding piece of hard plastic. I thought for a moment I might need to put it into action.

Harry Cain

MJ Monaghan added to the tally of goals he has scored since joining us a few weeks ago.

MJ Monaghan avoids the defender ...

... and the goalkeeper ...

... and celebrates his goal.

The light in the second half was easier to work with, being standard floodlights, and the underlying grey of Kendal's kit was more reflective than I was expecting.

James Edgar

Chris Almond made the result sure with a couple of minutes to go.

Chris Almond

Club Secretary Dan Roberts was celebrating his birthday, so was called upon to present the Man of the Match award to Joe Herbert.

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 2 (Monaghan, Almond) Kendal Town 0

Attendance of the day

Even a couple of years ago, Prescot Cables would not have anticipated that our game would attract the division's best attendance of the day. However, our 370 against Glossop North End achieved that, at least for a game: there may have been more people in the public houses of Atherton, as South Shields' visit fell victim to the dreaded, and unanticipated by the weather forecast, lunchtime downpour.

We too had looked at the pitch at the start of the day, and reported no need for an inspection, just as it started to rain, although, fortunately, it stayed as light as forecast. Glossop's photographer joined me as we picked our way round the foot of the steps from the dressing rooms, where just about everyone who has business on the pitch will walk, most of them wearing studs. I do not think it was a man eating swamp, but we were not taking any chances. The pitch was firm enough, although I left a distinct Dr Martens footprint if I stood in one place for too long.

James Edgar had sustained a shoulder injury at Clitheroe, which gave Dan Burns an opportunity for a start.

Dan Burns

Regular spectators will be aware of a couple of leaks in the gutter of the main stand, sending a jet of water on to anyone standing below. That problem should be solved, as the repair people have been in, and have also taken an advert.

Reece McNally

We are a superstitious bunch in football, or maybe what goes around comes around. So, when you use a picture of an opposition player coming off second best to generate a meme, you can be sure he will score against you at the next opportunity. Chris Baguley did the honours for the visitors just before half time.

We came out more determined for the second half, and James McCulloch had the first part of a mixed afternoon with a goal a couple of minutes in.

Scenes ensued.

This was to be the high point of the game, with pressure from the visitors leading to a second goal ten minutes from time.

It is still quite dark towards the end of the game, so I worked my way round to the side of the pitch.

Louis Coyne

An unsuccessful afternoon was compounded a few minutes from time when James McCulloch made a tackle, that did look a bit mistimed from my angle, but did not look to fall within the definition of excessive force or endangering the safety of an opponent, and was unfortunate to receive a straight red card rather than a second yellow. The consequences for the afternoon would have been the same, but he will now be suspended for three games rather than one.

In spite of the defeat, Ben Barnes ensured we stayed in the game for longer than we might have done, and won the Roanza Truck & Van Man of the Match award.

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 (McCulloch) Glossop North End 2

Away at home

Regular readers may notice that these pages do not stray much into professional football, so I was a little confused as to why Harry Kane received quite so many plaudits for the number of goals in a calendar year, when a season is what matters. We can still mark the achievement, albeit with dodgy punctuation.

Since November, Skelmersdale United have been sharing Prescot Cables' ground, having been ejected from Stormy Corner by the landlord. Our game away to them would therefore be in familiar surroundings, and convenient for transport as Skelmersdale does not enjoy bus services on New Year's Day. Not that I could say Prescot enjoyed them either, as I had a considerable wait for a connection.

Arriving at the ground, I went towards the gate for season tickets before swiftly remembering to join the queue to pay. As I was kitting out, programme editor Gareth Coates expressed surprise that I was wearing a good pair of boots to go on to the pitch. I explained that keeping them well polished means the rain runs off, which is why the Army are so keen on it. This would be amply tested during the afternoon. Once I was ready, I was about to breeze through the tunnel, then realised that I was not technically at my own ground and should wait until the teams had entered the field and the gate was opened again. We occupied the unfamiliar away dugout, and Dave Powell and his team were providing a blast from the past at home.

Our game at the weekend had been postponed due to a waterlogged pitch, and, whilst it had dried, rain was forecast. It duly arrived, and whilst I was getting my cover in place, Chris Almond opened the scoring against his former club. I was in time to catch the celebration.

Chris Almond celebrates his first goal

The regulars from the Fence End had taken shelter in the stand, and were snapping those of us out in the rain.

I caught the second of Chris Almond's goals.

We were seeing all the effects of the rain.

Jordan Wynne

It eased off for a while towards the end of the half.

Josh Klein-Davies

Two more goals from Chris Almond had me wandering round at half time puffing on an imaginary pipe murmuring that the last time anyone scored five in a game was probably Jack Roscoe in 1935 (he scored six in a 10-0 win against Harrowby in the FA Cup). Sadly, Chris was not to have the opportunity to equal this feat, as he took a knock to the Achilles tendon he ruptured at the beginning of the season, which put him out of action for three months, and so withdrew as a precaution.

Lloyd Dean assumed scoring duties ten minutes in to the second half.

Lloyd Dean

Given the light, I had taken my usual approach of positioning myself under a floodlight on the Gasworks Side. This was not one of my better decisions, as the wind was blowing from the west, so I was getting water on the front of the lens more quickly than I could wipe it off, giving a soft focus effect. I got a couple of exposures to illustrate the conditions.

Reece Fishwick

After getting this one, I retreated to shelter on the terraces on the stand side. From here, I was able to see Dan Burns score his first goal for the club.

Dan Burns celebrates his goal

After the game, I normally remove my high vis and waterproof trousers, but I thought it best to keep them on, as putting them in my bag risked drowning the camera. I was, however, delighted when I got home to find my highly polished boots had done the trick, and my feet were completely dry.

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

Final score: Skelmersdale United 1 Prescot Cables 6 (Almond 4, Dean, Burns)

Testing the drainage

With the money Prescot Cables have raised through the Supporters on the Pitch scheme, we have been able to make improvements to the playing surface, one of which is to have it occasionally Verti-Drained. We were to see the advantage in our game against Clitheroe. I arrived to find Robbie, our coach driver and ground volunteer admiring his white lines that had remained intact since Tuesday, saving him a job re-marking them. The rain was starting to fall as the players warmed up, and had become a downpour by the time the game started.

I took a position at the Hope Street End, or, as its sign has been re-fixed, the Roadshow End, where I was partially sheltered by the stand. Josh Klein Davies, the eventual Man of the Match, has been presented with an opportunity by recent departures, and showed he is intent on taking it with both hands by opening the scoring whilst I was still adjusting the cover of my camera. At least I caught the celebration.

I was getting some good pictures despite the rain. I am not sure why the referee felt the need to jump.

Lloyd Dean

Jordan Wynne was next up to score from a penalty.

Jordan Wynne

We unintentionally assisted the visitors with an own goal from James McCulloch.

Being sheltered, I did not realise quite how hard it was raining until I went to the other side of the pitch. I stayed for about 5 minutes until I fully realised the consequences of my error.

Andy Scarisbrick

For the second half I took up position by the touchline where I was partially sheltered by the fence. The players were not so lucky.

Valter Fernandes

I was in position for our third goal from Josef Faux.

Josef Faux celebrates his goal

The rain continued to fall more heavily, to the point I needed to take cover and return to the terrace in front of the main stand for the first time in some while. The pictures from this location give some idea of the difference between being pitchside sitting on the ground and on the terrace, as we see the pitch forming the background of some pictures looking down on the play.

Harry Cain

Clitheroe pulled back a goal, but could not stop us taking all three points in challenging conditions.

Roy Grundy and Steve Pilling

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 3 (Klein-Davies, Wynne pen, Faux) Clitheroe 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