Prescot Cables 1 Newcastle Town 1 PRESCOT continued their bright start to the season by grimly hanging on for a deserved draw against league pacemakers Newcastle Town.

But there was another side to an exciting story with the visitors frequently in danger of losing an undefeated certificate after winning six and drawing one out of seven league games with an impressive 18-6 goal difference.

Indeed, Cables would have had the luxury of an early lead had a Steve Wilson effort not been cleared from the goalmouth with 'keeper Chris Holmes beaten.

Minutes later, prime opportunist Wilson lobbed just over the bar from a close-range position.

However, the well drillind Staffordshire team eventually found their shooting boots and the man Prescot had to thank mostly for a clean half-time sheet was 20-year old Greg Price who qualified for a man of the match accolade for a second time this season.

One of his half a dozen first half saves was simply miraculous as he denied striker John Burndred a certain goal towards the end of a tremendous goalless first period.

With the fast end to end play being carried through the second period the result could have gone either way. But having said that neither side deserved to lose a classic.

It was a pity Warrington referee Paul Harris and his assistants had not allowed play to flow more. Actually, I do not wish to remember the number of bookings for seemingly trivial incidents. By contrast, was centre-back Wayne Johnson guilty of a 'hands offence' during a prolonged goalmouth mix-up which ended with unmarked Dave Sutton getting a vital final touch?

However, Prescot's fourth positioned aspirants are nothing if not capable of answering blow for blow.

In a quick reply, the hosts' heroes were Darren Hilditch, an expert taker of a lengthy free-kick, and midfield Kevin Lynch who got on the end to head his maiden goal of the season in memorable fashion.

Then came a tremendous last quarter in which strictly policed Peter Cumiskey broke out of prison only to be knocked off the ball as he was running through.

With time running our, it became Cables' turn to thank their lucky stars. Centre-back Simon Hughes kicked off the line with his goalkeeper beaten for the one and only time.

Prescot team: Greg Price, Aaron Cramsie, Derek Jackson, John Cassidy, Simon Hughes, Kevin Lynch, Paul Joyce, Lee Bamber, Peter Cumiskey, Steve Wilson, Darren Hilditch. Substitute, Joe Doyle, Graham Davis, Phil Noon.

This Saturday, Prescot have a rearranged home fixture against Vauxhall Motors, another team in the top flight.

Chadderton are visitors on the following Wednesday, October 1.

Tony Sullivan, of Page Moss, who impressed in six appearances this season, has left Prescot Cables to join GM Conference club Stalybridge Celtic.

Winning lottery numbers for last week were 2,3,4,6,10,16. There were no winners. A draw for £1,150 takes place in the Deanes House on Sunday next (9.30pm).

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