Out on Pens in Lancs Cup

United 1-1 Liverpool (3-4 penalties)
Lancashire Senior Cup; attendance 975
at Moss Lane, Altrincham FC

Off to Altrincham for a Thursday game. It's early, the tram is late, there are 40 waiting on the platform. But we reach Barney's Chippy by 1850h. Kick-off is bang on 1900h, we've got our seats behind the United dugout. Does it get better than a pie and chips watching a game on a mild autumn night? It probably does but not on Thursday in south Manchester.

First half is Liverpool dominating the game but chances are few for both sides. At the break United are a goal down and don't look like scoring. Puzzled as to why the linesman flagged the goal as offside (big cheer) but was over-ruled by the referee (jaw dropping silence).

For the second half we opt to stand on the open terraces. United now look a better side and surely they must get back into the match and progress in this cup. It gets better when Matthew James, Zoran Tosic and Federico Macheda come on as subs. Cracking goal from a direct free kick by Tosic. Whilst everyone was looking for a high ball to head it whistled into a corner of the nets.

Bit of pressure to get a winner but not enough. No extra time so nearly everyone has to stay for kicks from the penalty mark. Didn't win. We leg it back to the tram station, put it all behind us, and look forward to the next match on Saturday.

Highlights : Two chaps from possibly Hong Kong with a banner saying "Hong Kong Reds". What a night out? Lots of kids, half term so no school tomorrow and better still no stupid face-painting, Haribo sweets, jester hats or blowing trumpet tubes for parents to indulge them. What a night out?

Admission free with season ticket, free teamsheet. Tram ticket £2.90 (the adult maxi saver is 30p cheaper than a return - crazy but that's tickets for you), cheese and onion pie and chips £2.50. Weather : mild 15 degrees, dry, very slight breeze.

Teams :
United : Zieler, Brown (Macheda 65), Dudgeon, Evans, Gill, De Laet, Stewart, Hewson (Tosic 58), King, Norwood (James 58), Brandy. - only had 3 named substitutes not 5.

Liverpool: Bouzanis, Darby, Threlfall, Ayala, Mavinga, Irwin, Eccleston, Amoo, Saric (Mendy 81), Palsson (Weijl 65), Kacaniklic. Subs: Hansen, Kohlert, Brouwer.