Cables 2 Ossett Albion 1

Ossett , not to be confused with Oslot- a small Leopard like creature, or Joleon Lescott, Everton’s over-paid, back stabbing ,want-a-way defender- is a small Yorkshire market town with a population of 20’000. Quite how it manages to sustain two semi professional football clubs is anyone’s guess -the town’s other team being Unibond Premier outfit Ossett Town.

An unusual name is Ossett, but not as unusual as it’s original moniker of “Ossett-Cum-Gawthorpe”……..try putting that in a football chant and see where it gets you – a night in the cells probably.

I’ve only been to Ossett once and by God was it cold.I’m not talking ready brek and an extra pair of socks cold, I’m talking being dumped on the dark side of the moon wearing nowt but a pair of speedo trunks cold.In the gloom of winter on a foggy day Ossett looked like hell on earth.

But that was last year.Most Cables games were a dark, gloomy place last season despite the weather. Ossett arrive at Cables having lost their first two games by an odd goal, Cables are on a mini- bounce following a spirited draw against fancied Trafford. Hope springs eternal , or it did until the twentieth minute when a poorly taken  Cables corner allows Ossett to break .A lofted through ball, a poor defensive header and a slick finish by a visiting forward plunges Cables watchers into that familiar territory of pre-defeat anxiety.

Cables hold it together for the rest of the first half.They have a couple of pots at goal from distance and just as importantly manage to shut up shop at the back.

John Riley’s precise finish from a knock down levels up matters for Cables.Shades of Tuesday and another battling point? Aaron Rey has other ideas as he meets Mike Withers’ cross and crashes a towering header off the underside of the Ossett crossbar. The ball bounces down over the line and out.To be fair there’s not much complaint from Ossett, the ref gives the goal straight away, as does the linesman. Cables leading at home- it feels a bit like walking on a tightrope as several dozen hoodies throw bricks at you from below.Excitement mixed with trepidation.

Phil Green has a great chance to seal it for Cables when put clean through but his effort is more back pass than goal threat. Sadly this ensures a nerve wracking last 15 minutes as Ossett pepper the Cables area with free kicks. Unlike Tuesday there’s no cheer for the four minutes of added time but Cables hold on with a little luck and lots of grit.

At full time Cables fans are walking around not knowing quite what to do with themselves- so this is what it feels like to win? I could get used to it….