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Prescot wished that this game had been called off near the kick off time as heavy rain made conditions
problematic. Cables seemed more up for the fight as they found spaces in the Leigh defences. Phil Cooney's
neat footwork and a lack of closing down enabled him to fire a dipping shot that Drench turned over the bar.

The big moment in the half occurred after Prescot cleared a Leigh attack. They were left wide open as three
Cables forwards attacked a solitary defender. Dean Thurston raced down the left wing with Rey and Green
unmarked in penalty area. With the ball begging to be crossed Thurston decided to shoot towards the near post
and only found the side netting. Moments later Thurston again broke away and blasted a shot that skimmed off
the crossbar.

Prescot continued to have most of the possession in the second period although Leigh created the better
chances. Andy Paxton pulling off a number of saves and punches to clear the danger. The visitors thought they
were taking the lead when the bounce of the ball fooled Liptrot. Thompson took advantage, and with Paxton off
his line, attempted a lob that was too weak to trouble the Prescot keeper.

A controversial incident in the 75th minute effectively ended the match. Keeper Paxton was adjudged to have
'handled' the ball from an unexpected back pass by Cooney. With the indirect free kick positioned some 8
yards from goal, Cables and Leigh players crammed into the six yard area as tempers flared. Baguley
attempted a quick pass to his colleague who blasted over. This should have resulted in a Cables goal kick;
however the referee incorrectly insisted the kick be taken again. Baguley placed the ball in a more favourable
position that allowed him to crash it into the net.

Cables day turned sour like the weather. Substitute Calland went into a tackle, the result was an outrageous
run of the ball that found its way to the feet of Ince who made it 2 nil in the 81st minute.
With Cables beginning to lose their heads, Morgan then brought down Dorney in the box. Stepien slid home a
penalty on 84 minutes. Whitham then scored Leigh's fourth in the 89th minute with the Prescot defence absent.
The final score by no means represented the match at a sodden Hope Street.

Reporter - P. Watkinson

Man of the Match : Tony Sayer

Prescot Cables : Paxton, Sayer, Morgan, Liptrot, McIntosh, Lundon, Wright, Cooney, Green,
Rey, Thurston. Subs - Calland (for Cooney, 79), Cliff (for Green, 85), Kirkbride, Riley, Gibiliru