A hard-working, hustling Prescot Cables side gave table-topping Lancaster City a terrific run for their money on Merseyside on Tuesday night, and it was only in the last five minutes that the Dolly Blues secured the two goals which gave them the poin
ts.
Cables adopted exactly the right tactics, never allowing City to settle into their usual free-flowing passing game. Every time a Lancaster player received the ball, he was immediately confronted by at least two black-and-gold clad opponents, and the game developed into an aerial dog-fight, bouts of head-tennis being interspersed with long high balls whacked out of defence by both sides.
Mike Rushton and Paul Jarvis were tireless on the wings, probing for openings in the home defence, but they found full-backs Lee Smith and John Riley in determined mood; and if ever the home defence was breached, keeper Lee Hughes was on hand, falling to his right to clutch a Jonathan Smith header from a Jordan Connerton cross, and punching away a dangerous Adam Farrell free-kick.
Connerton was at the heart of City's most dangerous moves, crossing for a Rushton header which was cleared, heading just wide himself, and releasing Chris Ward with a deliciously weighted pass, the midfielder's centre, at the end of a penetrating run, eluding the leaping Rushton by inches.
Having weathered the Lancaster storm, Prescot began the second half in attacking mode, and, in the 47th minute, it took a superb one-handed reaction save by Martin Fearon to prevent Karl Brown from giving the home side the lead with a terrific snap shot on the turn. The skilful Aaron Rey was also proving a handful for City's defence, who rose to the challenge, aided by the powerful midfield combination of Ward and skipper Michael Stringfellow. Connerton, meanwhile, was continuing to deliver probing through balls, but Hughes twice sprinted from his line to snuff out the threat.
The turning point came with the introduction, midway through the second half, of 17 year old Danny Hattersley, making his debut from City's Reserves. His fresh legs gave the visitors the impetus to press forward, while constantly alert to the danger posed by Brown, Rey, John Couch and Phil Cooney. In the 85th minute came the breakthrough, with Connerton, inevitably, as provider, carrying the ball to the byline before laying it back into the path of Andrew Teague who fired an unstoppable shot into the bottom corner.
Two minutes later, Hattersley embarked on a tremendous run which was ended by a clumsy tackle. The home support was adamant that the offence took place outside the penalty area, and even the travelling faithful were surprised and delighted when referee Mr. Mark Astley pointed to the spot. Adam Farrell stepped up and, for the second successive game, smashed the ball home to ensure a victory which City's efforts just about deserved.
Now come two tough fixtures, at home to Trafford on Saturday, ko 3:00pm, and away to Bamber Bridge on Tuesday ko 7:30pm.
Prescot Cables: Hughes, Smith, Riley, Spearitt, Ridler, McCulloch, Cooney, Brown, Williams , Rey, Couch (subs.Green,Woods, Ojapha, Cliff, McGann)
Lancaster City: Fearon(8), Heffernan(7), Marshall(7), Teague(8), Smith(8), C.Ward(8), Rushton(7) Stringfellow (Capt.7), Connerton(8), Farrell(7), Jarvis(7).
Subs: Hattersley (for Rushton), Rothwell (for Connerton). Not used: Wilson, Henry, Jackson.
Star man; Andrew Teague, imperious at the back and, not for the first time, contributing a vital goal.
