PRESCOT Cables put in a sterling show of determination and effort against Scarborough Athletic at Volair Park but found that the league leaders were just too strong for them.

Cables Manager Brian Richardson kept faith with the same team which had been successful at Goole the previous Saturday.

The start of the game was delayed by several minutes due to the netting on one of the goal posts not being secure. When the game finally got underway Cables kicked off playing towards the Knowsley End.

It was Cables who applied the early pressure and a long cross from Dominic Marie from the right was confidently taken by Scarborough keeper Jordan Porter.

A cross from the right by Scarborough’s Lamin Colley was headed clear by Ben Cartwright then at the other end Rob Doran had a shot blocked as play switched from one end to the other at a frantic pace.

Cables came close to opening the scoring on 15 minutes when Edgar and Johnstone linked up down the left hand side, the ball being played inside to Lloyd Dean on the edge of the penalty area who turned and unleashed a fine shot which flew just wide of the far post.

James Edgar was proving to be a threat on the left side for Cables and another strong run ended in a low cross across goal which was hacked clear by the Scarborough defence. Scarborough’s Lamin Colley was shown a yellow card on 18 minutes for a foul on Jamie McCulloch, and Jameel Ible soon followed him into the referees note book for a body block on the elusive James Edgar. Against the run of play Scarborough took the lead on 24 minutes from a corner on the left taken by Adan Bolder.

Bolder’s corner was aimed towards the near post for Jameel Ible who made amends for his yellow card by heading powerfully home.

Cables replied with Rob Doran finding Dominic Marie with a fine pass whose shot was blocked by the Scarborough defence. Cables continued to press and were rewarded with a corner on the left. The corner taken by Sam Turner was a poor one and sailed over the cross bar and behind for a goal kick.

On 35 minutes Benny Igiehon became the third Scarborough player to be shown a yellow card for a dangerous kick on Jamie McCulloch and was perhaps fortunate not to have received a red one.

Scarborough’s Adam Bolder and Lamin Colley linked up down the left side and Ben Cartwright blocked the cross for a corner. The corner taken by Bolder was held by Priestley who cleared for Cables.

Priestley came to Cables rescue again just before half time with a fine stop from Matt Bloor. There was still time for Cables to respond, James Edgar’s long cross being taken by Scarborough keeper Jordan Porter under pressure from Rob Doran.

Cables began the second half positively, Rob Doran’s cross being headed out for a corner by Dave Merris. Rob Doran then had a shot blocked and Marie’s cross from the right was cleared as Cables continued to apply pressure on the Scarborough defence. Scarborough eventually got out of their own half and a cross by Matty Bloor to the near post was headed inches wide by Adam Bolder.

A cross by Benny Igiehon was cleared by the Cables defence and was hit long with Rob Doran in hot pursuit but Scarborough keeper Jordan Porter was first to the ball and cleared. On 56 minutes Scarborough increased their lead when Jordan Porter’s long clearance found Cameron Murray who held off the Cables defence to shoot past Phil Priestley inside the near post.

Cables responded and came desperately close to pulling a goal back, Lloyd Dean having one shot saved and another just wide of the far post. However Dean’s involvement in the game came to a premature end on 69 minutes when he was sent off following a skirmish involving several players which also saw Valter Fernandes and Scarborough’s Ellis Humble receive yellow cards.

Scarborough almost added to their lead on 72 minutes when Benny Igiehon nicked the ball past Phil Priestley only for Priestley to recover and gather the ball as it trickled towards the goal line.

There was a flurry of activity on the touch line as Cables made a trio of substitutions, Bannister, Wright and Wynn replacing Marie, Turner, and Simpson. This was quickly followed by Scarborough who replaced Bolder and Colley with Nelthorpe and Day. Cables continued to press forward and Rob Doran’s cross to the far post was headed over by Phil Bannister.

There were five minutes of added time which Scarborough played out to clinch a hard earned victory against a spirited Cables side.

Prescot Cables: Priestley, Fernandes, Johnstone, McCulloch, Cartwright, Turner, Marie, Simpson, Doran, Dean, Edgar. Substitutes: Bannister, Flood, Herbert, Wright, Wynn.

Scarborugh Athletic: Porter,Ible, Merris,Price,Turnbull, Humble, Murray, Bloor, Igiehon, Bolder, Colley. Substitutes: Nelthorpe, Flint, Brown, Day, Morgan.