CABLES FINALLY CAN BELIEVE IT!
PRESCOT Cables supporters have waited for more than a decade to celebrate promotion but knew this contest was over in little more than an hour.
A rousing rendition of ‘Now you’re gonna believe us, the Bulls are goin’ up!’ in the moments after John Murphy’s goal signalled as much.
His short-range header added to a similar one before the break from Alex McNally, who had not started at primary school when the Pesky Bulls were relegated from the Northern Premier League’s top flight in 2009.
City of Liverpool were left to wonder what might have been had Max Allen not been shown a red card shortly before the break by referee Jonathan Chadwick – coincidentally for a reckless lunge at McNally.
The teams were tied at 0-0 when the Purps’ midfielder was sent off, and had barely threatened a breakthrough between them.
Until that moment, it had been a tale of two injured captains; Danny Mitchley was unable to continue for the visitors, while Cables’ Liam Hollett gritted his teeth to carry on with a groin strain.
His contribution at the heart of a defence that has not conceded now in sixand-a-half hours of game play cannot be understated.
A capacity crowd at the Joseph Russell Stadium – so big the start was delayed to usher every ticket holder inside – saw Ste Daley’s men threaten when Murphy glanced over from James Foley’s clipped free-kick.
They could roar for real though in added time at the end of the first half when McNally met Foley’s deep corner with a firm contact inside the six-yard box.
Cables are tough to beat on home turf; in fact, only champions Leek had managed that feat in a league fixture since Clitheroe left with victory in September.
For that reason, the visitors’ task felt close to impossible on 65 minutes when Kyle Sambor’s cute assist from the right presented to Murphy a chance to make it 2-0 which he gleefully accepted.
Prescot’s leading scorer then skewed wide when Jack Goodwin’s cross struck defender Michael Grogan’s back and fell kindly.
City of Liverpool shifted shape in an attempt to at least cause discomfort to their opponents, but substitute Xenon Bahula’s driven effort – smothered easily by goalkeeper Mitch Allen – was as good as they could muster. When he reflects, Paul McNally, the Purps’ manager, will be glad to see the back of a rival he has failed to beat in five meetings since taking charge 18 months ago. Four of those games have ended in defeat.
Instead, this was Prescot’s day. They lost a play-offs final at Bamber Bridge in 2018 and were desperate for history not to repeat itself. STAR MAN: Liam Hollett (Prescot Cables)
ENTERTAINMENT: ★★★★★