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Saturday 17th September - Frickley Athletic  0-1  Prescot Cables

The Blues suffered their second consecutive defeat at the hands of Prescot Cables who carried out a 'smash & grab' raid on the Millennium Worldwide Stadium. Prescot's winning goal came from the penalty spot after 19 minutes following Referee Mr. McGrath deciding that Steve Robinson handled the ball inside the penalty area even though it was clearly outside the box - a matter confirmed by the match video which shows the offence around 2 yards outside the box! Click here to download video clip (Right click and select "Save As")

With Ashley Scothern ruled out through the injury he sustained at Blyth Spartans in midweek Leroy Chambers returned up front to partner Andy Evans whilst Steve Kennedy was fit to replace Simon Collins in the centre of the defence.

The Blues started the game well and went close within the first few minutes when Calum Selby's right wing corner found the head of Chambers at the back post but Ryan McMahon smothered the ball on the line. Most of the play was centered in the Prescot half until the visitors managed a rare break down the right on 18 minutes. Mick O'Donnell sent over a cross which struck Robinson on the arm a good metre outside the penalty area. However, after consulting with his assistant the referee awarded a penalty which Adam Flynn converted via the left hand post. The Blues soon returned to the attack but were struggling to break through a resolute Prescot defence, although Martyn Woolford did see his 20 yard shot fly just wide of the left hand post. As half time neared Selby's corner was dropped by McMahon with Woolford hooking the ball goalwards only for a defender to clear off the line.

The second half continued in much the same way, with most of the play taking place in the Prescot half but with the Blues struggling to carve out many clear opportunities to score. However, Karl Connolly missed a good chance to extend Prescot's lead early in the second half but he fired over the bar when unmarked just inside the box. Just before the hour mark some good build up play led to Selby firing a low 25 yard shot just wide of the right hand post whilst minutes later the Match Officials showed their lack of understranding of the laws of the game once again. This time the Assistant Referee flagged for offside against a Prescot forward following a Prescot goal-kick which the referee immediately blew for. However, as the Blues took the free-kick the Referee must have realised his error as he immediately stopped play and, after a few seconds of deliberation, decided to restart it with a drop-ball! After a series of poor decisions throughout the game this incensed players and supporters alike and shortly afterwards the Referee took exception to Gary Marrow asking him if he "knew the rules" and send him from the dug-out. Worse was to follow for the Blues as Ritchie Butler was then carried off and was replaced with Phil Lindley, who came into midfield with Selby dropping to left-back.

The Blues came within a whisker of equalising on 75 minutes when Woolford's high cross was only palmed away by McMahon and Robinson's overhead kick put the ball back into the 6 yard box. McMahon again punched clear but Lindley met the ball on the volley on the edge of the box but his shot bounced down off the underside of the crossbar and was grabbed by McMahon. Minutes later Robinson's cross from the right was met by Collins at the back post but McMahon got down well to smother the ball at the foot of the post. Next it was the Blues' turn to have the crossbar come to the rescue as Selby's clearance was charged down by Eddie Taylor who carried the ball forward before lobbing Gary Ingham but the ball bounced up, struck the crossbar and was cleared by matt Daly. Next Alex Callery sent Robinson away down the right of the Prescot box and his low cross was palmed away by McMahon only for the ball to fall to Woolford but his low shot was partly blocked by McMahon and the ball hacked clear off the line. Matt Daly then had the ball in the net following a Callery corner but he'd handled the ball in the process and the goal was disallowed.