Should I stay or should I go?

17^th September 2011 – Curzon Ashton v Prescot Cables

The day couldn’t have started any wetter than it did, and the rain didn’t let up all morning. What could be any worse than Manchester on a very rainy September day? I suppose I could have taken the sensible approach and opted to stay in and watch whatever Film4 was showing that afternoon. But no, this was a Saturday and that can only mean one thing. Football.

The big question was of course, would the match be on or not. Scanning the Curzon Ashton website there was no sign of the game being cancelled. Good news? I rang the club and they said the game was definitely on.  However my Twitter conversation with Curzon’s Dave Young (@YoungDave86 if you’re interested) was less hopeful that the match would happen. Dave said I wasn’t to listen to what the club said and that there was to be another pitch inspection shortly.

By now, the rain had stopped and we thought we’d try our luck and headed off to the match. Being a season ticket holder, I didn’t have to worry about paying in to a game that might not happen, but the next dilemma - to buy a coffee, or not buy a coffee? We bought a coffee. Just about everything that I’d done that day seemed to be going against my better judgement. We were momentarily cheered up by the sight of the two Prescot supporters carrying a drum and two trumpets in the ground. It was turning into a strange day.

So I’m in the ground, I’ve bought a programme, I’ve bought a coffee and we’re still not sure if there’s going to be a game.  I don’t think this is how it works at Old Trafford. The referee was still to make a final decision and it was only ten minutes before the game was due to kick off. The paddling pool that was doubling as the penalty box was the problem area. The water on the rest of the ground had drained away and wasn’t an issue. In the end, the Ref decided the pitch was satisfactory for playing on, or at least to start the match, and he would see how it went. We took our seats.

When the teams came out, it was like we were about to watch a Midlands derby with Prescot Cables in their orange kit and Curzon in blue.  I opted to support Birmingham City.  The game kicked off and the massive splashes every time the ball hit the pitch provided much amusement. Mike Fish should have been at home in the conditions.

And the band played on

Amazingly, after around ten minutes, Curzon’s pocket sized player Matty Purcell managed to head in the first goal past Prescot’s goalie.  The two Prescot supporters who made up the band weren’t going to conform to the usual of only playing when you’re wining.  They decided they were also going to play when they were losing. Badly.

Then drama as Andy Watson sustained an injury meaning he had to be carried off the pitch. Luckily for him, he didn’t have to exit on Curzon’s Dad’s Army style stretcher which always seems to pose more of a danger than the injury the unfortunate player being carried off is suffering from. From where we were sat, we could see the blood oozing through his sock and it didn’t look good. He hobbled out of the stadium on crutches and was taken to hospital.

At half time, we were treated to Curzon’s under 7’s who charged around the pitch in the way kids do. It was just like watching Mossley. (Joke)

The second half was no less dramatic, luckily this time it was just the football. Matty Kay scored after twenty minutes closely followed by a goal from Prescot. Matty Kay hit back again for Curzon after ten minutes and the only person not wanting him to get a third goal was Bob who sponsors Curzon hat tricks. Sadly for Bob, and happily for Curzon, Matty got his third goal and Prescot were finished off.

There’s just one final thing to say – cough up Bob.

Final score – Curzon Ashton 4 Prescot Cables 1