Prescot Cables 0 Skelmersdale United 2

Tuesday 6th November 2012

LIVERPOOL SENIOR CUP 1ST ROUND

Prescot Cables fell at the first hurdle when they were beaten by Skem in the first Round of the Liverpool Senior Cup at Hope Street.  Last season Cables had beaten Skem 4-3 in a cracker of a game at the same stage of the competition but this time was a different story.

Cables had been unbeaten in their last three games and only one defeat in five, and with Skem boss Tommy Lawson fielding a youthful side must have fancied their chances.

Cables manager Dave Powell made four changes from the side which won at Wakefield on Saturday.  Kelly, Hoctor, Hollett and Barker replacing Culkin, Shinks, Murphy and Bathurst.

The game was in doubt because of a wet pitch which passed a late inspection.  Despite the muddy conditions, both sides attempted to play the ball on the ground instead of opting for the long ball game.

Skelmersdale kicked off playing towards the Hope Street end.  However it was Cables who had the first chance after just one minute when Jamie McCulloch’s shot was comfortably saved by Skem keeper Marcus Burgess.  Skem then put a good move together down the left side with Wright and Phoenix linking well to cross for Houghton who shot wide.

A long ball from Chris Rimmer was intercepted by Phoenix who passed to Wright whose cross found Houghton who was adjudged to have been fouled as he turned to shoot.  Skem were awarded a penalty which Wright duly converted after 8 minutes.

Stephen Kelly was booked for a foul and from the resulting free kick taken by Wright Cables keeper Andy Moor collected comfortably.  Cables were awarded a free kick on 15 minutes taken by Hoctor and headed on by Edwards who was adjudged off side.

Skem continued to press catching Cables on the break with some neat passing.  A nice lay off by Houghton found Morning who fired just over the bar from outside the box. Morning then tried his hand again after 20 minutes but his effort was high over the bar.

Skem had the ball in the net again after 21 minutes when Houghton score from close range after Moor dropped the ball from Wright’s cross.  However Houghton was adjudged to have been off side.

Skem keeper Burgess then made 2 fine saves in quick succession.  After 33 minutes a cross by Edwards was met by Barker whose close range effort was blocked by Burgess, Webb firing the rebound over.  Two minutes later and Barker parried away Jack Webb’s goal bound effort.

Skem increased their lead on 36 minutes.  Morning linked up down the left side with Simpson whose cross was headed in from close range by Phoenix.

Skem went on the offensive at the start of the second half, as they sought to increase their lead.  Wright took a free kick from the edge of the box which Moor saved well at the far post.

Cables forced a corner which was cleared only as far as Hollett who fired just over the bar.  It was then Skem’s turn to have a corner taken by Morning and headed over by Wright.  Wright was proving troublesome to his old club, and after Phoenix squared the ball across the penalty area for him, he just wide of the right post.

Both sides then rang the changes.  Skem introducing Stoker for Wright and Cables replacing Kelly and Barker with Shinks and Bonnetta.  Lambert had a shot from a corner which went well wide fro Cables.  Skem then made their second substitution Jackson replacing Phoenix.

Skem squandered two good chances to increase their lead when Morning fired wide of the post  and Saleh missed a simple tap in after good work down the right by Stoker.

Cables made their final substitution on 75 minutes when Williams replaced Edwards and Skem on 80 when Strickland replaced Houghton.

A long ball from Webb sent Bonnetta through who shot just wide of the post. Skem then saw out the remaining minutes to complete a comfortable victory.

Prescot Cables: Moor, Kelly, Hoctor, Hollett, Rimmer, Lambert, McCulloch, Banda, Barker, Webb, Edwards.  Substitutes: Shinks, Williams, Alford, Fielding, Bonnetta.