Eyes open

August Bank Holiday Monday this year saw Prescot Cables at home to Skelmersdale United, who may be joining us on a more regular basis later in the year if they are unable to remain in their ground on the site of the former hamlet of Stormy Corner.

Before the game, there was the annual task with the most opportunities for things to go wrong - the team photos. For the individual pictures, commercial manager Steve Garnett suggested a backdrop of some of the supporters' banners. I was sceptical, but it worked out well, if a little orange, with a tequila motif (nothing to do with me, I cannot understand how anyone drinks the stuff).

Joey Faux

The light stayed fairly even with light cloud, for the players, but the sun came out for the management. Next up was the team photo itself, an exercise that needs a firm hand, as the team are certainly not going to listen to me.

Fortunately, the sun went back in, as the position, with the stand and banner in the background, meant everyone's faces would be in shadow if it had stayed out. With everyone in place, I was not loud enough with the "say testicles" (from The Commitments), so there was no take when everyone had their eyes open, which caused much mirth on Twitter.

Once it was done we could all relax, and someone could put the banner on the front of the stand back in position. Anyone tempted to caption a team photograph should put the names in a separate text file, as, when you make the inevitable errors, it is easier to amend the file and paste the contents into a new text box than to edit on the photo.

We only had one mascot for the game, which was just as well, as the assistant referee was looking to start the handshakes while most of the team were still walking in front of me.

We started playing towards the Hope Street end and I took up a position on the ground in front of the covered standing.

Baba Conteh

The first half ended goalless, but we swiftly opened the scoring in the second half with a penalty converted by Tunde Owolabi.

Tunde Owolabi scores from the spot

The visitors then opened their account from a penalty. Jordan Wynne restored our advantage a few minutes later.

Jordan Wynne shoots for goal

The penalty count started to look like rugby union when Tunde Owolabi was brought down in the box for our next opportunity. Unfortunately, Skelmersdale's Jack Sims correctly guessed where Tunde would put his second penalty, and was able to save.

Jack Sims

We looked as though we would hold on to our lead until the last seconds of injury time when the visitors snatched an equaliser.

The rest of the pictures from the game can be seen on the club website here, and on Google Photos here. A copy of the team photo is available here.

Final score: Prescot Cables 2 (Owolabi pen, Wynne) Skelmersdale United 2.

New clothes

Following our abortive attempt at team and squad photos the previous week, we were successful before Prescot Cables' game at home to Radcliffe Borough. The forecast had been for rain again in the afternoon, but this became more likely for the evening. The team assembled early, and lined up for their squad photos in the new training tops. It may seem an obvious precaution, but I only just remembered to put down a couple of cones so everyone stood in the same place. As my fill in flash was only working manually, I needed everyone the same distance away.

The squad photos will have two crops, one square for the website, and a sort of cigarette card format with the player's name. I shall also see if I can persuade the Liverpool Echo to use this year's picture of Andy Paxton: despite sending one in last year, they continued to use one from when he was coaching at Skelmersdale United and was attired accordingly.

After this, it was time for the team photo. Andy Paxton had a clear idea what he wanted, always a good thing, as it is easier to give someone what they want if they know what that is. Also the players might not be keen to shift and change shirts about for balance if I ask, but when the manager tells them, they do not have a choice. Previous team photos have been taken in front of the stand, but we decided to go for the club sign on the Gasworks Side.

Michael Simpson

We hoped to get the club badges in, but there were too many people, but we got the ground sponsors in, getting them the exposure they have paid for. Captioning was easier this year, as there was only one player whose identity I had to check, unlike last year, when, but for remembering a Twitter follower at the last minute, one player nearly appeared under a made up name. This is the final draft, with a couple of tweaks still to come.

Once I had the photos backed up on my phone (I did not want to make this a weekly occurrence), there was time for coffee from a local outlet, something stronger than instant.

The visitors had a new yellow away kit, in place of the black and red of previous seasons. Their shirt back sponsor appears to have changed the spelling of their name.

Before

After, with Lloyd Dean

We started play early: I spotted Dr James coming in at two minutes past the hour, as we kicked off after Joe Nicholson's fourth minute goal.

Joe Nicholson scores our goal

At half time, stalwart supporter Harry Thomas pointed out that my counterpart for the visitors had a high vis waistcoat with "Official Photographer" on the back, and speculated that they must have some money. I pointed out that it would have not cost much, and he was probably supplying the rest of the kit himself.

Lenses are trained on Sam Staunton Turner

The league like anyone inside the pitch perimeter who is not playing to be appropriately identified, and sent all the teams bibs for the players to wear warming up - in a fetching shade of orange, which is not much use to either side when we are at home.

If you are wearing black at this level you need to add a decent amount of another colour - it is all very well channelling your inner Lev Yashin, but the goalkeeper is supposed to be distinguished from the referee.

As for the game, a goal for Radcliffe on the hour ensured the points were shared, maintaining our unbeaten record for the first proper look at the table after the traditional three games.

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 (Joe Nicholson) Radcliffe Borough 1.