Saturday Football in Lancashire

Woke a bit later than expected this morning - 8.30 a.m. on Malcolm's sofa and Tom was still sleeping soundly in Sam's spare bed.  Sam was up and away by 8.30 a.m. to spend the day with his girlfriend in Liverpool.  I made myself tea and wrote up yesterday's blog.  We had a leisurely morning.  Malcolm went out and bought newspapers and Tom managed to connect his laptop up to Malcolm's wireless system.  The Farmer's Market was on but as it was still raining heavily this morning we stayed in - only Malcolm ventured out on his shopping trip and brought back some rather tasty Lancashire cheese.  Tom wanted to visit the Liverpool FC shop at Anfield so after stopping off at Greggs in Allerton Road to buy sausage rolls and a cake for lunch (good job I can't go to Weight Watchers; next week) we drove along Smithdown Road and through the area of the riots of a couple of weeks ago and on to Anfield.  Liverpool were playing Bolton Wanderers at 5.20 p.m. today but the area was still buzzing with football souvenir vendors and burger vans etc.  The ticket office announced on a sign that all tickets were sold out.  We spent twenty minutes or so in the shop before returning to Malcolm's car for the trip up to Preston to see the Preston North End v. Notts County game at Deepdale.  We arrived in Preston in good time and had a look around the PNE shop (I still always read it as the PINE shop!) before the match kicked off at 3 p.m.  It was not a particularly exciting or skillful game from either side but PNE managed a 2-0 win with a second fluke goal from PNE's goalkeeper.  Ian Taylor, the goalkeeper, made a drop kick from the PNE penalty area which travelled all the way to the Notts County penalty area where it bounced over the head of the County goalkeeper into the back of the net! The goalie had come out of his area in response to a rushing forward by the PNE striker, Mellor, who had the good sense to see what was happening and let the ball travel unassisted into the County goal. During the game Luella kept me informed as to how things were panning out in the Saints v. Leicester game.  Saints lost this 3-2 thanks to an own goal by Ricky Lambert. Tonight Tom, Malcolm and I joined our friends Alma and Geoff in the Red Fort Indian restaurant on Lark Lane.  An excellent meal.  Tom has had a really good day today and was very polite and sociable tonight.  Malcolm and I spent a couple of hours this evening chatting in the flat after Tom had gone off to bed.  Church tomorrow and the trip to Grimsby.