Newcastle Town 0 Prescot Cables 0 MANY people argue cup football should be played on a straight knock-out basis, rather than over two legs. Support for that argument was in abundance at Lyme Valley Parkway in this first leg of the semi-final of the FNWT League Cup.

For Newcastle, whotend to play on the break and have more success away from home, the fact that Prescot didn't score is an excellent result. For Prescot, not losing was important. A single goal at home could be enough to put them into the final for the second year in succession.

The first half was poor fare. What few crumbs there were came from Prescot. Early in the game, Weston crossed, Heavey dummied and O'Callaghan laid the ball off to Taylor, but the Prescot man shot wide. It was another half-hour before the next chance was created. Garforth lost his marker and crossed for O 'Callaghan to head against the post.

Newcastle's only real chances came when a corner hit the near post and came back out to defender Brown who blasted the ball high over the bar from 15 yards and, as the half drew to a close, Prescot keeper Dahl was called upon to save a shot from Cunningham.

The second half was 20 minutes old before the first chance from either side was created. It came from a fine passing movementinvolving Lynch, Heavey, Garforth and O'Callaghan, and ended with the latter heading over. With 10 minutes left, O 'Callaghan hit the side netting with a header after Lynch had created the opening.

The final ten minutes became more open, with Newcastle suddenly showing the desire to win the game. Despite some pressure which brought soome scrambling defence from Prescot, Newcastle never seriously threatened to score.

The second leg of the League Cup semi-final will be played at Valerie Park, Prescot this Saturday (3pm).

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.