Prescot Cables 3 - Lancaster City 2

Evo-Stik Division One North - Saturday 23rd February 2013

Prescot Cables defeated Lancaster City in a five goal thriller at Hope Street. Cables should have won by a bigger margin, and were unlucky not to go three goals clear in the first half when Ryan Gratton’s shot rebounded off the onside of the post.

Cables manager Dave Powell made two changes from the side which lost to Sklemersdale in midweek, Dave Dempsey and Jon Bathurst  replacing Enzo Benn and Luke Edwards.

Lancaster kicked off playing towards the Hope Street End.

Cables were soon on the attack, Ryan Gratton’s low cross from the left being cleared by the Lancaster defence.  From a free kick taken by Dempsey towards the far post, Murphy headed wide.  Bathurst, Gratton and Dawson then linked up to create an opportunity for Lambert who fired over.

Cables broke the deadlock on 15 minutes when Lancaster defender Marshall lost possession and Dawson scored with a shot inside the far post from 12 yards.  Dawson had another opportunity on 25 minutes being sent through by Gratton.  However Dawson tried to get in a better position rather than shooting first time and his shot was blocked by the Lancaster defence.  Lancaster had an opportunity when they were awarded a free kick on the edge of the penalty area, Swarbrick sent his shot over the bar.

Dawson then had a shot parried by Lancaster Keeper McDonald and cleared for a throw in.  From the throw in which went across the Lancaster penalty area, the ball was picked up by Lambert who shot from 18 yards.  McDonald got a hand to the ball but couldn’t prevent it crossing the line to make it 2-0 to Cables.  Lancaster won another free kick taken by Swarbrick, Hollett heading away for a corner.  From the corner taken by Swarbrick Reid held the ball under pressure.  Wills then put Swarbrick through but his shot was saved by Reid fro a corner.

Cables were unlucky not to go three goals ahead in the 34^th minute when Bathurst and Gratton linked up well on the right, Gratton’s well struck shot rebounding off the inside of the far post.  After this escape, Lancaster got back into the game on 38 minutes when after Cables had cleared the ball out of their penalty area, Darren Green volleyed it back into the top left corner of the goal with a spectacular strike from 25 yards.

The second half began with a flare up involving players from both sides, Lancaster’s Taylor and Cable’s Hollett being booked.  Lancaster then had two free kicks in quick succession the second one being pushed away by Reid fro a corner.  Jack Webb was the next Cables player to be booked for a challenge on Lancaster left back Ryan Elderton.  Dawson was then sent clear by Lambert but pot his shot wide.  Another flare up involving several players on the touch line resulted in Lancaster’s Dodgson being booked.  Cables made their first change when Myler replaced Webb.  Dawson was then booked for a foul.

Green headed wide for Lancaster from Dodgson’s cross, then a long range effort by Joe Evans went narrowly wide.  McDonald then saved Dawson’s shot for a corner.  Cables increase their lead on 65 minutes when Bathurst scored from close range after McDonald pushed away Evan’s shot.

After Green was clear for Lancaster, Reid blocked the shot with his legs.  Cables made another change. Edwards replacing Bathurst.  Dawson then had another opportunity firing over from Gratton’s header.  Reid then made a fine save from Wilson’s free kick.  A long range effort from Dawson was pushed away by McDonald and then another shot by Edwards went wide of the post.

Cables made their final substitution Jeffries replacing Gratton.

Lancaster had the final say right on time when after Reid cleared the ball down field, Green hit it straight back into the Cables goal with a spectacular strike from 40 yards.

Prescot Cables: Reid, Shinks, Dempsey, Murphy, Hollett, Webb, Evans, Lambert, Dawson, Bathurst, Gratton.  Substitutes: Jeffries, Myler, Edwards, Doig, Rooney.