Glossop North End 1 Prescot Cables 2

ALL the goals came in the first half as Prescot recorded a win that keeps them four points clear at the top of the North West Counties League Division One.

Cables got off to a flying start with a goal after just three minutes when Steve O'Neill slipped the ball beyond the defence for Gary Jensen to run onto and superbly flick over advancing keeper Darren Royle.

And the visitors had a couple of opportunities to add to their tally before Glossop equalised against the run of of play on 21 minutes when Matthew Minshull's driven cross was headed downward by Darren Hamilton at the back post and the bounce of the ball deceived Prescot keeper Paul Dahl.

With Glossop using the offside trap to good effect the game became a midfield battle before Prescot grabbed what was to prove the all-imporant score in the 36th minute. O'Neill again opened up the home defence and after pushing the ball past Royle was then upended by the keeper who appeared lucky to escape with a yellow card. There was to be no reprieve for his side though as Kevin Garforth calmly converted the resultant penalty.

After this Prescot took control but were unable to add to their total before the break despite efforts by O'Neill and Eddie Taylor.

And it was much the same story in the second half with Cables in command but unable to turn their superiority into goals, while at the other end Danny McVey marshalled the Prescot defence to such good effect that Glossop failed to create a single scoring chance after the interval.

O'Neil, Jensen, Andy Hayes, Taylor and O'Callaghan all went close for Prescot and they also had what looked like a clear-cut penalty turned down.

On Saturday, December 9, Prescot entertain Oadby Town from the Midland Alliance League in the third round of the Carlsberg FA Vase, kick-off 3pm.