Match Report: Prescot Cables (a)

Vauxhall Motors and Prescot Cables shared the points on the opening day of the NPL West Division season after a hard fought 1-1 at the Auto Safety Centre on Saturday afternoon. 

New Vauxhall manager Chris Herbert had to rebuild the Motors squad over the summer, and opted for a mix of old and new in his first competitive game in charge. 

New singings Joe Akpan and Rob Hopley joined returning fan favourites Adam Rooney, Ben Dufton-Kelly and Adam Hughes in a new-look back 5 formation, Hughes marking his 100th game for the Motors with his inclusion in the starting 11 today today. Finley Heath, one of only a few who were part of Danny Holmes' side last season, summer signing and new club captain Jacson Coppack and Haydn Cooper, who returned to the side after a few seasons away, made up the starting midfield trio, and new signings Sam Tuner and ex-Tranmere Rovers star Dale Jennings making up the forward line in this new look Motors side.  

The games first moment of excitement arrived after just 6 minutes, with the home fans appealing for their side to be awarded a penalty after midfielder Tony Donaldson went down in the box following a corner, but the referee was in no mood to give any soft shouts today. 

With the warm weather still playing its part on the dry playing surface, both sides were happy to keep the ball off the floor for the opening exchanges, and it would be a set piece that would reap rewards for Chris Herbert’s side.

New signing Sam Turner was first to react following a Adam Rooney header from a corner that was blocked on the line, the forward powering his effort past ex Bootle keeper Tony Thomson to give the away side the lead with just 11 minutes in the clock.

That goal seemed to give Cables the kick up they needed. 

Winger Paul Murphy-Worrell was a handful down the left hand side, his shot bringing about a good save to keeper Jack Atkinson’s right hand side.

The home side got their just rewards on 25 minutes when midfielder Jack Loughran took advantage of a dangerous cross inside the 6 yard box that neither keeper Atkinson or his centre backs dealt with, bundling the ball home from 5 yards out to level the scores at 1-1.

New signing Dale Jennings was Motors liveliest player after the much maligned “hydration break”, the ex-Bayern Munich player relentless in his pressing of the home sides defence, and should have done better from a poor Cables clearance at a corner, but his snatched effort didn’t trouble keeper Thompson. 

Cables’ midfielders Donaldson and Loughran were themselves a handful for the Motors midfield, seemingly both playing as free floating no.10’s, but for all their efforts they were unable keep any of their shots on target as the half petered out at one goal a piece. 

The second half saw 47 year old Kevin Ellison replacing 41 year old Rob Hopley (surely the oldest aggregate substitution in league history?), and he showed why he such an integral part of this Motors side. 

His cross/shot from the left hand side just after the restart bobbled across the 6 yard box, but unlike the Cables goal earlier on, no Motors player was there to pounce on the dangerous cross. 

Murphy-Worrell had the best chance of the second half when his powerful shot stung the palms of keeper Atkinson, as he sent the ball over the bar for a Cables corner that came to nothing. 

There were 2nd half debuts for four of Chris Herberts summer signings - Joe Ireland, Liam Anderson, Harry Deakin and Daniel Kennedy, as the manager looked to preserve some legs with a quick turnaround to Congleton Town on Tuesday night on the horizon, the game ending after 6 minutes of added time.

Both sides will be happy with a point a piece after a summer of mixed fortunes, Prescot returning to the division after being relegated from the Premier Division, and the Motors summer of squad and management upheaval leaving both sets of fans not knowing what their respective sides would be like. 

The games in this division come thick and fast in August, with the Motors having to face an away trip to Congleton Town on Tuesday night followed by a home game against big spending Stafford Rangers on Saturday. 

Tickets for the first home game of the season can be bought via our online ticketing partner Fanbase, and we look forward to seeing you all at the Premier Jet Stadium next weekend.