City of Liverpool manager Paul McNally was happy to take a point after going behind against Prescot Cables.
The Purps endured a first-half onslaught but without any real penetration from Kevin Lynch’s side. However, the deadlock was broken and they were behind when Kyle Sambor’s effort arrowed into the top right corner.
Luckily for City of Liverpool, it wasn’t two minutes later as Ben Barnes had to rush out and deny Sambor, his second of the evening, with his feet.
Peter Wylie equalised with just two minutes of normal time remaining capping an improved second-half which saw Prescot Cables under considerable pressure at times.
Although, the Bulls did come close through Declan Daniels’ header on the hour before a flurry of chances from John Murphy, Sambor and James Edgar but the ball managed to stay out.
Reflecting on the game, McNally told Off The Park: “It was a tough game, they were better the first-half, they were all over us, we didn’t come out, we didn’t look interested. They were on the front foot, very physical, very up for it, we looked a bit shellshocked, unorganised.
“Second-half, a change of shape, got them in told them a few home truths, told them to be more aggressive, maybe a few decisions went our way, we were far better in the second-half from the 50th to the 60th minute. At that point, once we scored I think we should’ve won it, I’ll take that point.
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“It was team spirit, they dug in, wanted it, could we have gone away from here 1-0? Possibly yeah. I don’t it would’ve been deserved at the end but we could’ve won 2-1, I believe the goal was over the line before that.
“We could be talking about a 2-1 win, smash and grab, on reflection a point is a point, is it a good win? Only time will tell, not many teams are going to come here and beat them.
“They were in the same position last season so they know sometimes you can’t play good football and fight for your lives, today, we did that and we’re in transition.
“If you look at us this time next year and we look next year and we’ve done our job this season, we look next season, we’ll be a different team just like they are.
“Very proud of the lads, they dug in, stuck together, took a load of abuse. I took personal abuse, we all took it, we dug in and it was very satisfying that we got that point at least. It’s not a win and you should never celebrate a points but that was a very satisfying point.
“My take on it [personal abuse] was that it was too personal. Things like your wife being called a b**** on the sidelines, your sons are on the sidelines by you and you’re getting called paedophile, a nonce, that’s not football,” McNally said.
“That’s just abuse you don’t take, even at a professional level they don’t get that type of abuse so we shouldn’t have to take it at our level because we’re just normal people, normal fellas. Them same people saying it are the same people who want to be on that pitch but they’re probably not good enough to be on that pitch, they’re the same people not good enough to be in the dugouts.
“Am I hurt by it? Yeah, I think it’s wrong. I think it’s ruined a reputation of a very good football club here but we’ve just come out of it, out of the lions den, they can act how they want but that’s left a bitter taste in our mouths, the clubs mouths, spoilt it.”
The draw keeps City of Liverpool fourth from bottom, level on points with Witton Albion – who have played two games less.
It’s their eight point from their last six but the Purps boss has reiterated that changes won’t happen quickly. He continued: “You can’t win every game and even the good sides don’t win every game, I think we’re finding our feet again as a team, we’re finding what shape we’re good at.
“We want to play the shape that I want to play but I don’t think we’re suited to that, we’ve worked on it enough, worked on it in training but when we play in games, we aren’t getting used to that shape.
“We’re transitioning, we’re looking to get a certain way of playing, a certain identity and work from that, that won’t happen overnight.”
[Featured image: Nick Gerrard]
