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After their midweek heroics against Tranmere Rovers in the Liverpool Senior Cup Prescot Cables were beaten by league leaders AFC Fylde at Valerie Park this afternoon.The visitors were always in control of proceedings, and completed a comfortable victory courtesy of two exquisitely taken goals. This defeat leaves Cables in 19th position in the table and with Cammell Laird winning there is now only a three point cushion between Cables and 21st place which could make for a tense finale to the season.

It was Fylde who applied the early pressure, winning a corner after 2 minutes from which Barnes had a shot blocked then a second attempt saved by Longrigg. One minute late and Fylde got the early breakthrough when a long ball from Paul Jarvis over the Cables defence found McCarthy in space who lobbed the ball over Cables keeper Stephen Longrigg. Cables had a penalty appeal turned down after 7 minutes when Steven Thames went down in the box and on 11 minutes a fine cross from the right by John Couch was cleared at the far post by the Fylde defence.

Fylde came close to doubling their lead on 15 minutes when a 20 yard shot from Barnes was deflected over for a corner. Michael Grogan produced Cables best effort of the match so far on 19 minutes when his 20 yard shot was gathered at the second attempt by Fylde keeper Zac Jones. However it was a brief respite for Cables as Fylde responded with a period of sustained pressure with Paul Jarvis down the left providing a constant threat producing several dangerous crosses which troubled the Cables defence.

Cables survived this barrage of attacking play from Fylde and could have equalised on 28 minutes when Chris Rimmer headed over at the far post from a corner taken by Joe Gibiliru. On 34 minutes Lee McEvilly cleared off the line for Fylde into the path of Chris Rowntree who fired just over from the edge of the box. However, Fylde nearly increased their lead a minute later when McCarthy's cross was deflected by Cables Chris Rimmer just wide of the post.

The second half began with Fylde on the attack and McCarthy forced a fine save from Stephen Longrigg with a powerful shot from the edge of the area. Cables replied with Michael Grogan producing a shot on the turn which was comfortably saved by the Fylde keeper. Cables made their first substitution on 50 minutes when McGann replaced Rowntree. On 53 minutes Paul Jarvis came close to increasing Fylde's lead when his first time shot beat Longrigg in the Cables goal. But was cleared off the line by Idow Salau. Two minutes later and Fylde finally got their second gaol when Barnes lobbed Longrigg from 30 yards after the Cables keeper had punched away a cross.

Cables forced a corner on 62 minutes and Liam Hollett had a header cleared off the line by Barnes. Cables made two further substitutions Foy replacing Hollett and Thomas coming on for Grogan. McCarthy had an opportunity to increase Fylde's lead on 72 minutes when after receiving the ball from a short taken corner he attempted to lob Longrigg in the Cables goal who this time saved comfortably.

Cables then had a late surge and created three good chances. On 74 minutes John Couch headed a fine cross from Baptista straight at Fylde keeper Jones. Five minutes later and Joe Gibiliru took a ball on his chest and fired just over from outside the penalty area. Then on 81 minutes a fine cross by Couch found Thomas at the far post who headed into the side netting. To their credit Cables never gave up the ghost and kept pressing right until the end against a side that showed on the day exactly why they are top of the league.

Prescot Cables: Longrigg, Grogan, McMullan, Rowntree, Rimmer, Hollett, Salau, Gibiliru, Thames, Baptista, Couch. Substitutes: Thomas, Foy, McGann, James and Smith.
REPORTER - Richard Quinn