CHEERS WIN SENDS US THIRD

Sunday February 1st 2009 | Football

After taking an early lead through Jon Sharples, Prestwich fell behind as visitors Cheers Bar grabbed two quick goals. Dean Astley dragged the home side level before Martin Keane’s penalty and Danny Healey’s tap-in secured the three points.

Looking to avenge our 4-0 drubbing at Drinkies earlier in the season, Prestwich started off brightly and took a 15th minute lead when Paul McGovern’s right-wing cross deflected off Healey in to the path of Jon Sharples who fired in off an upright from six yards.

Prestwich continued to create chances but were finding it tough converting them in to goals – Healey’s miss of an open net from two yards one such example as the home side could have easily put the game to bed in the opening 20 minutes.

But on 25 minutes, Cheers drew back level with a superb direct free-kick from 20 yards that flew in to the top corner leaving Hudson in the Prestwich goal no chance at all.

And then just ten minutes later, Cheers turned the game around when a tame effort deceived Hudson in the Prestwich goal and bobbled over the line.

Urging his players for more composure in front of goal, manager Peter Lorenzini’s half-time pep talk seemed to be working as Prestwich began the second period on top.

And the equaliser came for the home side on the hour when Healey’s free-kick found Dean Astley loitering in the six-yard box who made no mistake from close range.

Sharples run in to the box was brought to an abrupt halt when a defender left a foot in which felled the Prestwich midfielder. Martin Keane sent the Cheers ‘keeper the wrong way to roll the resulting penalty in to the bottom corner.

Healey made the game safe with ten minutes remaining as he collected Astley’s low cross before rounding the ‘keeper and tapping-in from a yard.

The win will give Lorenzini’s men confidence ahead of the visit of Elizabethan in two weeks in the third round of the Challenge Cup.

PCCFC: M Hudson, C Hudson, Walmsley, Mulligan, Steadman, Keane (1 pen), McGovern, J Sharples (1), Healey (1), Astley (1), Foley.