Knowsley Online

Joint raids in Knowsley lead to seizure of tobacco and fake designer goods

Raids in Knowsley have netted more than 6,000 illicit cigarettes as well as hundreds of items of fake designer goods.

Officers from Knowsley’s Environmental Health and Consumer Protection team joined with a team from HM Revenue & Customs and Merseyside Police on Friday (January 30) to carry out a series of raids at addresses throughout the borough.

At a property in Knowsley Village, they discovered: 6,240 illicit cigarettes and 26 kilograms of illicit tobacco along with a large quantity of fake DVDs and 27 bags and boxes of counterfeit designer goods. These included fake clothing items comprising coats, jeans and socks from designers such as Lacoste, Rock Face, Prada, Armani, and Christian Dior. There was also a quantity of counterfeit sunglasses and perfumes.

Investigations into the haul are ongoing. The householder - a 64 year-old man - will be questioned by Knowsley’s Environmental Health and Consumer Protection Officers in relation to the counterfeit goods in due course.

Cllr Ken Keith, Knowsley’s Cabinet member for Corporate and Customer Services, said: “This is yet another example of excellent joint agency working to address the growing problem of smuggled cigarettes and tobacco, as well as counterfeit goods.

“This sort of activity is not a victimless crime.- it not only impacts on the health of the community but also on legitimate local businesses.”

Mike Connolly, HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) added: “The huge profits from cigarette smuggling feed other criminal activities such as drug dealing and fraud. Smuggling undermines public health by creating a cheap and unregulated supply, and undermines honest traders.

“ HMRC work closely with the UK Border Agency and local law enforcement agencies to tackle smuggling and attacks on our markets like this. The tobacco products seized in this instance equate to evaded duties totalling approximately £4,100. Don’t be tempted by these illicit products which harm our communities, damage legitimate retailers’ income and reduce community funding for such things as hospitals and schools.”

Knowsley Council's Acting Consumer Protection Manager Alan Shone is pictured with some of the seized goods

Marine 3 Prescot Cables 6

Friday 26 December 2008

A stunned audience witnessed a remarkable Unibond Premier League match in which Prescot overcame their Arriva Stadium hoodoo in some style.

Darren Byers opened the scoring spree as early as the 3rd minute as he managed to impart enough pace on his header to beat keeper Lake.  Cables increased their lead on 12 minutes when Byers fired a blistering shot past the helpless Lake.

Prescot let Marine back in when a botched clearance from a corner allowed Lawless to volley past Jones in the 20th minute.

Cables restored their two goal lead on 23 minutes when Smith located Byers whose pass inside the penalty area was met by McCulloch and he took advantage of defenders ‘ball watching’.

Only a minute later the score read 1-4 as Mike O’Donnell blasted the ball past Lake from close range. Byers was denied a hat trick by the woodwork.

With nothing to lose Marine cut their arrears on 51 minutes when Brazier headed home.

Byers was not to be denied a third goal with a tap in on 62 minutes.  Two minutes later McCulloch scored his second with a volley. 

Bizarrely Jones in the Prescot goal was the busier keeper in saving attempts although could not stop Brazier from scoring his second in the 78th minute.

Prescot’s second instalment with Marine continues at Hope Street on New Years Day, kick off 3pm.

Cables draw after extra time in the 3rd round

Prescot  Cables.  2. v  Marine 2. (After extra-time)
Unibond League Challenge Cup. 3rd Round.
Marine won 4-1 on penalty’s.

Both teams made changes from the previous week's derby, in the Liverpool Senior Cup, but there was no let up in the excitement for the fans of both sides.

Marine certainly started the better but were unable to create many chances but it was Cables, on 20 minutes, who should have opened the scoring, when Forsyth broke clear but with only the keeper to beat shot over the bar. This miss did not prove to be to costly because only three minutes later, Cables Byers diverted an excellent cross from Mahama into the corner of the net. Marine came more into the game and wasted a great chance when Tuck completely missed the ball when attempting a header, when only 6 yards out from goal. The game was now end to end but without any further chances being created.

The second half started with Marine pushing forward and looking very dangerous and it was no surprise, when Brazier struck with a fierce shot from just inside the area to equalise. Both defences were now coming under increasing pressure as each side tried to make a decisive breakthrough. Marine brought on Cumisky and nearly scored with his first kick but his shot went just wide. 

Extra-time was looking certain but with only 5 minutes left, Tuck scored with a header. Cables threw everyone forward and deep into injury time Byers hammered home a deserved equaliser. Byers nearly won the game but had a close range shot saved by the keeper.

Jones in the Cables goal made two excellent saves to deny Marine taking the lead, in the first period of extra-time. Cables started the second period the better of the two teams but could not score although Taylor forced a brilliant save from lake in the very last minute of the game. So the game, in which neither side deserved to lose, went to penalties. Marine’s players kept there nerve the better and made Cables pay for missing two of there attempts.

Marine 3 v Prescot Cables 1

Tuesday 18th November 2008.

A local derby is always something to look forward to and when it is also a Liverpool Senior Cup game, excitement is an added element. On reading the programme notes, the last sentence said “enjoy the game”. The players obviously read the note, because from the start both sides played a passing and movement game, which was visually pleasing to all the fans. This provided a game of many chances, both defences being put under a lot of pressure, it was end to end, but without that vital breakthrough.

Just on half time Cables nearly scored as Green forced Lake in the Marine goal to beat away his shot, the keeper recovered to make another fine save from Flood. Lake’s double save became even more important because in their next attack Marine were awarded a penalty, and Hussey converted the spot kick to put Marine ahead right on half time.

The second half started with Cables pushing forward, and Henders equalised after Connolly cut through the Marine defence and squared the ball across the area. After the goal Cables pressed forward but were unable to score again, although a fine diving header from Connolly went inches wide. Both sides were now starting to create more chances and Hibbert had to be alert to push over a shot from Hussey.

Marine scored the important second goal, when Hussey headed in a cross from Tuck. After this Cables pushed forward to try and grab an equaliser but were caught on the break in the fine minute and Tuck forced home the 3rd gaol after a scramble in the Cables area.

Prescot Cables 0 Frickley Athletic 2

Saturday 16th November 2008

Goals from Frickley’s  Neil Towler, settled this close encounter, between two sides who needed the points to move further up the table.

Cables started the better and applied early pressure on the Frickley defence, without creating any clear cut chances.

Play was becoming very scrappy and both sides lacked the cutting edge to breakdown both solid looking defences. Close to half time Cables had two excellent opportunities, but both Byers and Moore shot straight at the keeper and the chances were lost. Early in the second half Frickley made Cables pay for those missed chance, when they scored twice in a seven minute spell.

Both goals were scored by Towler, First a free header, when a deep cross was missed by Cables static defence, and the second when a long ball found Towler clear and he lobbed the ball over the advancing keeper. Cables used all three substitutes to try and get back into the game, but although they applied a lot of pressure they were unable to create any chances and Frickley’s defence easily held on till full time.

Prescot Cables Hibbert, Smith, Flood, O’Donnell, Moore, McIntosh, Cooney, Taylor, Byers, Connolly, S.Williams. Subs. Henders, Green (for Byers 62), Bell, Forsyth( for Taylor 62), P. Williams(for Smith 62).

Matlock Town 2 Prescot Cables 2

Saturday 1 November 2008

Prescot escaped with a draw when a victory was once again there for the taking in this re-arranged Unibond Premier League clash at The Causeway.

The encounter turned into a game of three penalties with the officials having just as much an impact as the players.

Williams was fouled in the Matlock area in the 14th minute and Moore calmly stepped up to knock away the spot kick.

Cables looked dangerous on each attack.  Byers header was foiled by a flying save by keeper Richmond.  In quick succession McCulloch and Connolly had outstanding chances to increase the lead.

After the break Prescot allowed Matlock to drift back into contention.  Keeper Hibbert was judged to have brought down one of the Matlock forwards in the 68th minute.  Hannah put away the penalty kick.  3 minutes later he was helping himself to another penalty goal when Moore was judged to have handled in the area.

Not believing their good fortune, the Matlock spectators censed a gifted 3 points.

In the 93rd minute, a hopeful long throw into a crowded Matlock box was turned into the net by substitute Green to earn Prescot a deserved yet unlikely draw.

Prescot’s next competitive game is at home to Frickley Athletic on Saturday 15 November.

Prescot Cables 2 Nantwich Town 0

Tuesday 28 October 2008.

Precot cables moved out of the bottom four after an impressive performance against Nantwich town, in the latest game in the Unibond Premier league. After a period of scrappy play, in which both defences were on top, Cables started to build up the pressure and pinned Nantwich back in their own half. Williams played a prominent part in Cables attacks and he had two long range efforts saved by the keeper.

As the pressure grew, so did the home fans expectation of a break through, and on 25 minute the goal finally came. A clever through ball found Cables Darren Byers clear of the defence, and he calmly beat the advancing keeper, to give Cables a deserved lead,

After this Nantwich threatened for the first time and a mix up in defence nearly cost Cables the lead, but as the angled shot went across an empty net, no Nantwich player was on hand to put the ball into the net.

This scare only made Cables put on more pressure they continued to press Nantwich back and on 40 minutes Williams was brought down in the penalty area, Thomas Moore, who was having an excellent game, converted the spot kick, putting Cables 2-0 up.

The second half started as the first with some scrappy play. Both defences were on top, and chances were few in number but it was Cables who were looking the most likely to score.

Nantwich tried to change things by bringing on two substitutes and for a time this worked. They put Cables under pressure but the Cables defence was not going to crack. Hibbert the Cables keeper made an excellent save at the end of the game to prevent Nantwich a consolation goal, and kept a deserved clean sheet.

Prescot Cables: Hibbert, Smith, Flood, O’Donnell, Moore, McIntosh, Cooney, Taylor, Byers, Connolly, S. Williams. Subs – McEwan, Mahama, Henders (for Connolly, 78), P. Williams, McCulloch.

Prescot Cables 1 North Ferriby United 2

This Unibond Premier League match is one that was, for the home side, there for the taking.

Cables carved out a host of chances in the first half.  Rainford, who produced his best performance so far, created opportunities for Williams and himself.  He had a glorious chance of opening the scoring only to produce a feeble effort on goal.  McIntosh’s precision pass found the head of Williams, whose unchallenged header disappointingly missed the target.

Ferriby made Cables pay dearly for these missed chances as they took over the second half. 

The visitors dominance paid off as Russell headed in from close range in the 67th minute.

Ferriby sealed the points in the 87th minute in bizarre fashion as Bradshaw’s shot was initially saved by Hibbert only for the Prescot

keeper to mysteriously knock the ball into his own net.

Newcomer Muktar Mahama headed a consolation for Prescot with the final act of the game.
Prescot have another home Unibond Premier League match on Tuesday evening 28th October when Nantwich Town visit Hope Street.

Prescot Cables 0 Cammell Laird 3

FA Trophy 1st Qualifying Round - Saturday 18 October 2008

Prescot tumbled out of a second cup competition in a week with a defeat to neighbours Cammell Laird in the FA Trophy.

Lairds played with purpose, similar to their recent visit to Hope Street in the Liverpool Senior Cup, and enjoyed the majority of the possession without scoring, despite a number of clear cut opportunities. Sheehan’s pile-driver crashing against the cross bar and Atherton’s tame header cleared off the line, being one of many.

Cables began the second period with more drive, although went behind on the score sheet following a poor free kick by Bell.  As Lairds counter attacked, he compounded this error by sliding the ball into his own net on 52 minutes.

Reed’s mazy run was only halted by the feet of keeper Hibbert.  From the resulting corner in the 62nd minute, Collins rose unchallenged to head the ball into the net to increase Lairds advantage.

Prescot struggled to mount a comeback.  In the 79th minute, the visitors completed a comfortable victory as Rimmer’s shot deflected past Hibbert.

Prescot and Cammell Laird battle again at Rock Ferry on Tuesday evening 21st October in a Unibond Premier League match.

Belper Town 4 Prescot Cables 1

FA Cup 3rd Qualifying Round - Saturday 11 October 2008

In the backdrop of the East Mill, Cables FA Cup campaign came to a shuddering halt against Unibond Division One opposition. 

It was Belper who opened the scoring in the 21st minute following a lunge by Taylor who conceded a foul just outside the Cables penalty area.  Stevenson’s measured kick found the Prescot net via the upright.

Cables burst into action straight after the interval when a corner bobbled around the Belper penalty area.  The ball presented itself to Mike O’Donnell who struck a well timed shot to equalise in the 47th minute.

Cables brief ascendancy ended in the 55th minute when Walker’s miss-hit took a deflection and ballooned over keeper Hibbert.

Prescot defender Bell then tangled with Wilson and was shown the red card.  The match official’s performance, who at the end was booed off the field by the Belper fans, offended both sides, although it was Cables who came off worse.

Belper sealed their passage to the 4th round in the 82nd minute when Wilson’s shot deflected off two players on route to the net.  Four minutes later he also scored the Nailers fourth before Byers was dismissed as Cables finished a miserable afternoon with nine men.

Cables have a long Wednesday, 15th October, night trip to Hucknall where Worksop Town now play in the Unibond Premier League. 

Followed by an FA Trophy 1st Qualifying Round tie against Cammell Laird at Hope Street on Saturday 18th October.