It was almost summer, walking through town on Saturday morning. Well it wasn't raining anyhow and a series of checks on the AFC Liverpool website (and numerous text messages) informed us that the game was on. Great stuff. Down to the station and jump on the 12.29 to Prescot.
Now we're from Wigan and are in no position to comment on other towns but the initial thought when alighting at Prescot and seeing the closed-down Doghouse pub was: "Who'd live in a town like this?"
It all looked a bit desolate to tell the truth! But armed with the information that The Fusilier was a good and cheap pub we headed in the only direction possible and wonder upon wonder ended up at the said pub. Well our information was half right - it was cheap. Not that it bothers our lot. Nobody bothered us, racing was on the telly and the beer was drinkable.
With ten to three upon us we left for the ground - and good to see people walking to the place, going in through the turnstiles, buying the programme - incredible value 64 pages for £1.50 - and heading straight to the clubhouse bar for a swifty.
Needless to say it was raining by now and there was only one place to head for and that was the AFC Kop where we quickly made ourselves heard. And good on the scousers as they kept the singing going despite the scoreline remaining at 0-0 by half time.
Spot the ball
They had a good little atmosphere going whilst out on the pitch the two teams looked evenly matched. At this point - knowing we had five players out for various reasons (including our star player being at his mum's wedding!) - I'd feared the worst but the Robins lads battled for everything, kept their shape superbly and will well worth the nil-nil scoreline at the break.
We managed another swifty before having the joy of cahnging ends at half time. Bloody hell, changing ends. It takes me back to Northern Premier days watching Latics.
The game had now opened up a bit and we were beginning to edge on top and it was one of our new players, Andy Greaves, that took on the AFC defence before being brought down for a nailed-on pen; with which Ben Kay sent the keeper the wrong way!
We were still celebrating when a well-worked move resulted in an equaliser for AFC. But fear not these Robins lads are of stern stuff and on 70 minutes more good work from Alan Greaves led to an own goal from six yards out sending the Wigan Robin Bastards into raptures.
After that it was a bit backs-to-the-wall but the defence marshalled superbly by Dougy Pitts held out resulting with all three points going to the Robins.
We naturally went into the bar to celebrate the victory.
A great day out. Good to have some banter with the home fans, visit a good old ground, Prescot Cables were great hosts and the AFC fans were a credit to their new club. However plaudits must go to the players of both teams who put on a good display in difficult conditions. And of course to the WRP players that were magnificent. It's beginning to shape up as a good season and you get the feeling that the Robins and AFC Liverpool will be in with a shout come April.
We grabbed the train back to Wigan in time to ignore the England game on the telly in Berkeley Square and the Pear Tree
Forza Robin Park
The Wigan Robins Bastards are well chuffed with the result
Many thanks to cablestiger for the excellent photos; you can find more at http://s208.photobucket.com/albums/bb153/cablestiger/WIGANRP/
click on images to enlarge
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