In a game that was supposed to be a 7:30pm kick off, it would seem that Laburnum lost out on a few quid in admission money as I found that I wasn't the only one mystified to walk in to the ground free of charge at 7:10pm with the match already on my way.

After somehow managing to fight my way through the hordes of travelling Wireless fans (it's at times like these where I think fondly of the dedication and enthusiasm of our supporters in travelling in vast numbers to recent friendly games), I found a vantage point in LR's main stand to find that the sun really does shine brighter in Atherton.

Playing up the infamous Crilly Park slope, Prescot struggled with the pace of LR's midfield and, although they comfortably coped with any long balls, they were caught on the hop on several occasions by well-timed through balls, with Laburnum's number ten thumping the ball against the post early on before giving the hosts a deserved lead, firing in an almost Mansaram-esque shot from the edge of the penalty area.

The Wireless were looking pretty clueless at this point, and were finding themselves lucky to be aided by a referee that suspiciously resembled Bob Connolly, he of Wigan rugby league refereeing fame, and a chunky linesman with even chunkier glasses.

Cables were hammered 6-2 at patched-up Burscough in a friendly on Saturday, the excuse on that occasion being that Prescot largely fielded a side of reserves and trialists, but that certainly wasn't the case this evening as, with only three substitutes, what represents the majority of Prescot's first team found it a huge struggle against a side that are three divisions below them.

Prescot were lucky to only find themselves a goal down at the break, coming very close to scoring a comical own goal when their centre half hammered a dazzling header, one that Gavin Salmon would be proud of, against his own crossbar, with an Atherton man firing the rebound in to the net with a pearler of a half-volley, only to be denied by the linesman and what can only be described as an invisible offside.

Playing downhill in the second half and with the angry words of their manager ringing in their ears, Prescot almost resembled a football team, eventually scoring an equaliser when LR's claims for offside were denied and a shot was lashed in to the net.

Prescot were only level for a matter of minutes though, Laburnum retaking the lead with a thirty yard free kick that was certainly worthy of gracing a much higher level of football.

This time, the lead didn't last too long as Prescot equalised although I suspect that, like me, the Atherton goalkeeper was watching a passing train rather than the ball, turning round to only see the ball nestling in the back of the net.

Laburnum, mindful of a vital game in the Goldline Trophy later this week, fielded a side largely made up of youngsters and trial players for much of the second half, but that didn't stop them taking the lead for a third time when they scrambled in a rebound after a shot had originally hit the post.

Once again, the lead wasn't too last long though as the otherwise-sound youngster in Atherton's goal made an absolute hash of a backpass, falling over the ball and leaving one-time Leigh RMI striker Lee Thompson to fire in to the empty net, although there was some debate as to whether he connected properly and was actually aiming for the corner flag.

The final whistle blew not long after, with the 49 spectators, 3 Leigh spies and 4 Northern Rail trains left to contemplate how much Prescot will have to improve if they are to do anything but capitulate in this season's UniBond Premier League campaign.

Tomorrow night sees the Astra Army tour reach Formby, where I can get to see a real football team - come on the migty Genesis!

Yours in Leyth,
Matt

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